Shane Lowry tees off on the 17th hole during the first round at the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. on Thursday, June 16, 2022. (Robert Beck/USGA)

Shane Lowry was proud to show some true grit even if a second-round 69 left him "sweating" on the projected cut mark in The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

Whether he makes the weekend or not, the Clara man walked away with a spring in his step as he rebounded from an opening 77 that left him so frustrated he snapped a club in two.

"Never give up," Lowry said after a birdie-birdie-par finish left him on two-over. "Regardless, I've shot a couple of bad scores lately and it's not from a lack of trying with me.

"I never give up and try my best. I probably try too hard sometimes. I didn't give up today and if you don't give up and give it your all, you can sit here at the end of the day and be proud of yourself."

He's playing his eighth event in nine weeks and while his form has been hugely erratic, he's proud of his determination to battle on.

"I'm very happy with today," Lowry admitted after making an eagle, six birdies and five bogeys in an adventurous round. "Like, I didn't play that great and didn't feel comfortable out there, but to shoot 69 in those conditions is pretty good.

"I said to (caddie) Darren (Reynolds) after I came off nine — regardless of whether we make the cut or not, to throw a 69 out there in those conditions is pretty good and we move on whether it be here tomorrow or home for a much-needed rest."

He might have been forgiven for throwing in the towel after opening bogey. But he eagled the 11th from 12 feet and while he bogeyed the 12th and 13th to turn for home on four-over, he came home in two-under.

After making two birdies and two bogeys in his first five holes, he birdied the seventh from seven feet before chasing a long iron to two feet at the 229-yard eighth.

A birdie four at the ninth would have made the weekend a certainty, but he was happy to scramble a five after a poor lay up and pleased to chisel out a good score.

"To be honest, I had a left in me yesterday and I don't normally have a left," Lowry admitted. "If you go through this golf course in your head, left is trouble on every hole. So, it's a stressful and tough golf course in those conditions.

"I haven't played it as firm as this since we played it in May time. The greens were firm, fast, wind blowing across the course. It's very tricky and the rough is juicy. At the end of the day, it is the fifth major and is the biggest event on the PGA Tour, so that's how it should be.

"I played a little bit better today, but I was probably too scared of left and hit a few right today. It was one of those. Hopefully, I can make the weekend and go on and shoot a couple of decent scores and make a few FedEx Cup points."

Seamus Power was destined to miss the cut on six-over after struggling with the putter and shooting a 76 as Ben Griffin set the early pace, carding a 71 to lead by two shots in the clubhouse from Will Gordon, Jason Day and Viktor Hovland on six-under.

But the West Waterford man was set to join Lowry at Augusta National on Monday for a practice round ahead of the Masters.

“I’m going to Augusta on Monday,” Power said. “There’s gonna be a lot of guys there. The forecast is for rain but hopefully it doesn’t. Just have a look and really looking forward to it. To see it without the crowds. I played on Sunday before the Masters last year and it was special so I imagine it will be pretty cool on Monday. (Caddie) Simon and another friend are going to be hosted by member. Could be quite a crew there

Seamus Power struggled on the greens at TPC Sawgrass

“Part of it is to see changes but part is its just such a special place. Get a little look at it and get a feels for some of those changes, but really until we get close to tournament speed all those shots are so different. It’ll be nice to see and get a little bit more comfortable because I haven’t played there many times, but just to experience the place really.”

Power struggled on the greens at TPC Sawgrass, ranking 130th for strokes gained on the greens as he mixed three birdies with five bogeys and a double bogey.

“For a Friday morning it’s about as firm as you’ll see and the wind in blustery. You don’t have to miss a shot by a whole lot. I made some bogey there at 17 and 18 where the wind was slightly across and hurting and you guess wrong and make a couple of quick bogeys and you’re like, ‘Damn, what just happened?’

“I think that’s the beauty of this course, small greens and small targets. You hit the fairway you fancy your chances and I hit a lot of fairways today but I just wasn’t sharp enough and that’s what happens.

“I had another couple of three-putts today and really that’s what killed me. I probably had 4 or 5 this week and a couple more from the fringes which is unlike me. Normally a strength of mine and it just wasn’t there this week. I wasn’t on the green and the speed seemed a little bit off and golf is much harder than it is and it adds up to plus-6.

“Get some rest this week and get ready fro the Match Play. I played nicely there last year and it’s a course I like. Obviously then preparation for the Masters and in the back of you mind a couple of shots you’d like to do a little extra practice on that. Besides that keep doing what I’m doing.”

Rory McIlroy was a late starter in a two-ball with Scottie Scheffler after world number one Jon Rahm withdrew, complaining of illness.

At the Magical Kenya Open, Holywood's Tom McKibbin shot a two-under 69 to head into the weekend tied for 26th, six shots behind Spain's Nacho Elvira But Gary Hurley and John Murphy missed the cut after respective rounds of 74 and 78.