Lowry eyes leap into world's Top 40; Harrington cut again

Shane Lowry during the first round of the Turkish Airlines Open. Picture Fran Caffrey www.golffile.ie

Shane Lowry might have bogeyed the final hole of his delayed second round but a six under 66 left him tied for second in the Turkish Airlines Open and on track to finally break into the world's top 50.

Faced with an awkward lie near the edge of a bunker, he took three to get down from the edge of the par-five 18th at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal near Antalya and finds himself in a six-way tie for second on eight under, six shots behind Ian Poulter (64-66).

Poor weather could disrupt the third round, which got underway at 10.10am local time and there is a danger of further disruptions in play for thunderstorms on a course already soaked following two overnight deluges.

If the tournament were to end now, Lowry could leap as high as 38th in the world, though the will still have his eye on a third European Tour win and a possible jump into the Top 30.

"I've obviously shot a decent score," said Lowry, who resumed by tapping in for birdie at the 15th and then made two at the par-three 16th before taking six at the last.

"It was disappointing to bogey the last when I was trying to make birdie to get closer to Ian but I was three over after eight the first day and to be in the position I am in right now is quite nice. 

"I am just hoping we can get some more golf in today. He is six ahead of us so we need another two rounds to try and catch him, so hopefully the weather stays okay and we can do that."

Lowry is tied with Hennie Otto, Wade Ormsby, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Branden Grace and Books Koekpa for second place, having adapted well to the changing conditions.

"The ball is not going quite as far this morning and the greens are slower but you get used to playing in different conditions and you learn to adapt to it. The main thing is the ball not going quite as far, which hurt me a little bit on the last. 

"The greens are quite slow, a lot slower than they were on Thursday by probably a couple of feet."

Darren Clarke completed a second round 70 to get back to one over par with Michael Hoey on 14 over after following his 82 with a 75.

PGA Tour — Pádraig Harrington missed his 14th cut from 31 starts this year in the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Mexico.

The Dubliner was in trouble after an opening 74 but looked as though he could shoot the six under par round he needed when he birdied three of his first four holes.

But a double bogey six at the 14th and a bogey at the 15th left him back where he started and he eventually tailed off to post a one over 72 to miss the three under par cut by seven shots on four over par as Michael Putnam (66-64) leads by one from Shawn Stefani and Jason Bohn on 12 under.

Harrington's next start will come in the Gary Player Invitational in South Africa later this month.