Shane Lowry Sets Course Record 62 to Build Three-Shot Irish Open Lead

Shane Lowry carded an 8-under 62 at Trump International Ireland to reach 11-under par and secure a three-stroke lead heading into the weekend.

Shane Lowry carded an 8-under 62 on Friday to set the course record at Trump International Ireland, moving to 11-under 129 for a three-shot lead at the Irish Open. The 2019 British Open champion recorded nine birdies, including three consecutive gains starting at the third hole and another three to close the front nine. Lowry reached 8 under for the round through 12 holes before a three-putt from 18 feet on the 13th resulted in his lone bogey. Only three of his birdie putts were longer than 10 feet, and he secured a critical 10-foot par save on the 10th hole.

Haotong Li moved into a tie for second place at 8-under par following a round of 63. He shares the position with Danish golfers Jacob Skov Olesen and Niklas Norgaard, who both shot 64. Joaquín Niemann, who held the lead after 18 holes, posted a 70 to fall six strokes behind Lowry. American Patrick Reed sits seven shots back at 4-under par after his second consecutive 68, while Jon Rahm is one stroke further adrift at 3-under 137.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy struggled on the greens, finishing with a 69 to sit nine shots off the lead. McIlroy’s round concluded with a three-putt bogey from 4 feet on the 18th, which included a missed 20-inch par attempt. Brooks Koepka, playing his first tournament in a month, holed a 15-foot birdie on the final hole for a 66 to make the cut on the number. The field faced significantly calmer conditions on Friday after a wind-affected opening round that required six hours to play and was not completed until Friday morning.