RORY McILROY missed the cut with a woeful display as Royal Troon left some of the world’s best reeling.
But Irishman Shane Lowry shot an impressive 69 to lead The Open by two shots – despite an altercation with a cameraman.
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Now Lowry starts today’s third round as favorite following his 2019 triumph at Portrush.
McIlroy could only add four over 75 to his disastrous opening 78 to finish 11 over.
Lowry, 37, said: “Anything that’s thrown at me, I feel like I’m ready to take it in the face and move forward. If I give myself a chance on Sunday, I know I can do it and that’s as good a position as any.”
Bryson DeChambeau, who won the US Open last month, joined a long list of stars who missed the weekend.
Tiger Woods, Tony Finau, Cam Smith and Tommy Fleetwood were among other high-profile casualties in stormy Troon.
Lowry, who finished with a round of 69 to lead at seven under, did well to keep his cool after threatening to blow a fuse in a surprising incident that cost him a double bogey six on the 11th.
After a wayward run off the tee, he plunged the second into a gorse bush and gave up as lost.
Still, after taking a drop and playing a provisional ball, a fan found the original, meaning he had to go back, accept a penalty and ultimately score a six.
If that wasn’t enough, it happened after an outburst with a photographer. Lowry was caught on camera saying, “I could see you with the fucking camera on! Just get out of the way. Just go back. Shit.”
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But the 2019 Open champion calmed down and insisted he was to blame your crisis with the snapper.
He admitted: “I got a bit distracted when I got past the scene and lost my train of thought a bit.
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“You’re so scared to go straight there that I just took the club and went left.
“There was a cameraman arriving and I asked him to stop, but he stayed there. When it was all over, he put his camera up. I saw it out of the corner of my eye and should have walked away. It was my fault.
“I hit a great provisional and the referee asked if I wanted to find my first one. I said no and assumed everything was fine, but we got there and someone found him.
“But I felt that during that whole 20-minute process I was very calm.
“And to be honest, I was quite happy to come out of there with a six. It wasn’t a disaster and I was still leading the tournament.”
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McIlroy needed a quick start but made six shots in his first six holes – including a disastrous eight on the par-five fourth.
His day was summed up when, after missing the 16th green, he threw his club up in frustration and hit his chin.
McIlroy, whose ten-year wait for another Major continues, said: “After the eight on the fourth hole, I resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn’t be here at the weekend.
“Over the two days the conditions got the better of me. I have to always remember that I am close to another major.”
Ryder Cup hero Fleetwood, who shot 75 to finish with nine, admitted: “The conditions are tough but it’s your job to figure it out. I couldn’t do that.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
