McIlroy and Lowry lurking just three off the lead in Palm Beach
Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy combined to produce a stunning back nine and go into the weekend just three shots off the pace in the Cognizant Classic at the Palm Beaches.
Lowry birdied his first four holes on the back nine to shoot a second successive 67 that was matched by McIlroy, who saved the best for last and birdied three of the last four holes.
The Irish duo ended the day tied for sixth on eight-under at PGA National in West Palm Beach, where Bud Cauley shot a bogey-free 65 to lead by a shot from South Africa’s Garrick Higgo and American Austin Eckroat on 11-under.
Lowry was not best pleased to only par the last, but he’s well-placed after another impressive round at a venue where he was runner-up in 2022 and fifth last year.
The Offaly man is showing encouraging form and he followed a birdie at the third with a bogey at the seventh to remain on four-under-par before catching fire early on the back nine.
He made an eight-footer at the par-five 10th and back-to-back 14-footers at the 11th and 12th before hitting a wedge to just four feet at the 13th for valuable a poker of birdies.
The 2019 Open champion had a great birdie chance from seven feet at the 140-yard 17th but missed it low before leaving a 12-footer in the jaws at the last after a pulled approach.
He could end up battling close pal McIlroy for the title.
The Holywood certainly ended the day the happier of the two as he made little on the greens before finishing with birdies at the 15th, 16th and 18th.
The world number two admitted his approach played needed work after round one, and while he missed the first green with a wedge and opened with a bogey, he didn’t miss another green in regulation until he was forced to two-putt from just off the 17th.
The Co Down man birdied the second and the par five third and 10th holes to turn in seven-under.
And while he would hand a shot back with a long-distance three-putt at the 12th, he cruised through the Bear Trap in two-under by making 10-footer for a two at the 15th before hitting a towering short iron to 12 feet to a tight pin at the downwind 16th.
He then followed a solid par at the tough 17th with a chip and putt birdie at the 18th off one of his rare poor iron shots.
“I didn’t get off to the greatest of starts and missed a wedge left on one,” McIlroy beamed. “But then I made a good bounce back with birdies on two and three.
“I thought it was pretty similar to yesterday, a bunch of pars in a row, and then I had a good finish.”
The 2012 champion knows the course is only likely to get more challenging over the weekend and he was pleased to see his patience rewarded last night.
“It's just one of these courses where you’ve just got to stay super patient, knowing that the scoring is good," he said.
“People aren't going to get away from you here. But at the same time, there are still opportunities to make birdies.
"And, you know, I thought I did a good job today of staying patient until the end, and then that patience was rewarded.”
The cut was set to fall at two-under par when play was suspended with 10 players still to finish today.
But two-time champion Padraig Harrington was destined to miss out as he finished on two-over after making three birdies and five bogeys in a 73.
