SHANE LOWRY IS three shots off the lead at the Waste Management Phoenix Open after Friday’s second round as American James Hahn sets the pace at the half-way mark.
Hahn shot a bogey-free six-under 65 to take an outright lead before play was suspended for bad light.
Rickie Fowler, Lowry and Hideki Matsuyama held the joint lead overnight, with Hahn two strokes behind, but the American hit back on TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course.
Lowry followed his first round 65 with a one-under-par 70 to finish the day in a tie for fourth alongside Japan’s Matsuyama.
The Offalyman is well positioned ahead of the weekend but both Paul Dunne and Pádraig Harrington are on their way home.
The pair both finished below the projected cut line – there are still a handful of players to complete their second round – of level par.
Dunne’s shot one better than Thursday with a 71 but it wasn’t enough for him to make the weekend as he finished one-over-par.
Harrington, meanwhile, was well off the pace as he carded a second round 72 to add to his 74 the previous day.
Hahn, who won his first and only PGA Tour title last February at the Northern Trust Open, went off at the 10th tee and holed a birdie from 19 yards to kick things off. The 34-year-old sunk five more birdies, as well as securing crucial pars on holes 16 and 17, to sit at 10 under.
Fowler dropped down to joint second after round two alongside New Zealander Danny Lee.
The American birdied his final hole for a 68, while Lee finished with a 66.
Three-time Phoenix Open winner Phil Mickelson managed just an even-par round which saw him drop down to tied for 37th, while defending champion Brooks Koepka carded a 72 to move down to joint 21st.
An estimated 160,415 fans were in attendance for the second round, which broke the Friday record of 123,674 set in 2014. It was also the 10th-largest figure for any day in tournament history.
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