Update 19.15
MAJOR WINNERS RORY McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell have all failed to make the projected par cut at this weekend’s Irish Open.
The world number two shot a 72 to leave him two-over-par after yesterday’s 74 meaning he won’t return to play at Carton House tomorrow.
Harrington and McDowell, meanwhile, both shot a one under par yesterday, but as they attempted to move up the leaderboard, their fate was again tied and they each carded 74 this afternoon which places them the wrong side of the projected line cut.
Clarke finished out on 6-over thanks to two rounds of 75.
Indeed, most of the promising Irish performers of yesterday have fallen away. Cian McNamara started with three bogeys in his opening five holes and could only manage a 78 after yesterday’s impressive round while Seamus Power
Shane Lowry remains the great Irish hope as he sits two shots off leaders Peter Uihlein and Robert Rock on 7-under.
Rock, who lost out to Lowry when the Offaly man won in 2009, shot a six-under par 66, the lowest of the day.
The Englishman commenced his round holing a five-foot birdie before highlighting his day in landing his 281-yard second shot at the fourth hole to four feet and sinking the eagle putt in the overcast and windy conditions.
“I’ve been putting a little bit better lately so to start the day with even a five foot putt for a birdie was nice,” said rock after entering the clubhouse in the lead.
“And I drove it well for the rest of the round really. It was then a relatively easy eagle at the fourth but overall a steady day, no bogeys while a tidy short game kept it going.”
Additional reporting - © AFP, 2013 and Ben Blake
First posted at 5pm
