McIlroy and Lowry upbeat despite sloppy foursomes finish in New Orleans

Defending champions Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry will be gunning for birdies today after they bogeyed their last two holes and three of their last six to find themselves six shots off the lead at halfway in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

The Irish duo got off to a great start and were six-under through 12 holes and just two shots behind leaders Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin, who shot a six-under 66 to set the target at 16-under.

But they fluffed two chips and bogeyed the 13th, then bogeyed the last two holes after unforced errors to card a three-under 69 that left them tied for 16th on 11-under, six shots behind Isaiah Salinda and Kevin Velo.

The rookies added a 69 to their opening 58 to lead by a shot from Novak and Griffin heading into today’s fourballs..

“We were six under through 12 today and cruising and then, you know, a bit of a bad finish,” McIlroy said. “But we didn't feel like we played that badly to have the finish that we did. Couple of loose shots here.

“Tomorrow, it'll be hard to stay patient, because in the fourball format, you just have to try to make as many birdies as you can. 

“But we know that we're really good at the foursomes format. which we showed that today for the most part.  “So if we can climb back into contention within a few shots of lead going into Sunday, we feel like we'll be in a good position.”

Lowry hit a brilliant approach to set up and eagle three at the second  but after a bogey at the third, McIlroy birdied the fourth to get them going again

At the par-five seventh, Lowry recovered from heavy rough to set up another birdie, then pitched dead after a 342-yard McIlroy drive at the eighth to set up another as they turned in four-under 32.

They birdied the 10th and 12th to go six under for the day and into a tie for second but at the 13th, both fluffed chips and they dropped a shot to slip back to 13-under

They needed a hot finish to close the gap on the leaders but went backwards instead with three bogeys in their last six holes.

Lowry fanned his tee shot right at the 212 yard 17th and McIlroy fluffed the pitch, leading to another bogey.

They had a chance to finish on a high at the par-five 18th but McIlroy hit a tree with his drive, forcing Lowry to lay up.
McIlroy couldn’t hit their third close, however, pulling it left of the green from where they took three to get down.
Lowry was still upbeat at the finish.

“Well, I'm enjoying myself playing from about 340 down the middle of every fairway,” he joked, adding that the team event was a pleasant but competitive break from the monotony of individual strokeplay.

“I've had a great time so far this week,” Lowry added. “Look, we're obviously disappointed. I feel like 11-under is the worst score we could be for two days right now with our finish yesterday and today. 

“But I feel like if we can go low tomorrow and get into the 20s under par, and get after it, then on Sunday, we showed today, foursomes is our thing and we can make ground on the field there.”

On the Legends Tour, Paul McGinley opened with a one-under 70 in his first start this year in the Barbados Legends hosted by Ian Woosnam.

He was tied for 16th, five shots behind Scotland’s David Drysdale and South Africa’s James Kingston.

In the Mitsubishi Electric Classic on the PGA Tour Champions, Darren Clarke shot a level par 72 to share 37th, ten shots behind leader Jerry Kelly.

Padraig Harrington was joint 48th after a 73 at TPC Sugarloaf.