Shane Lowry looks a threat to Rory McIlroy in the DP World Tour Championship after a five-under 67 left him just three shots of the lead.
McIlroy failed to take advantage of four birdies in his first seven holes but still shot 69 to share second with Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton on eight-under, just a shot behind leader Antoine Rozner, who shot 65.
But Lowry is just three behind, tied for fifth as he aims to round off a hugely consistent year with a win.
“I knew I needed to go out and shoot a decent score if I wanted to get myself back in the tournament, and I did that,” Lowry said. “Hopefully, I can keep it going.”
McIlroy is confident he can add to his sensational record at the Earth Course and claim a third win in the season-ending event to wrap up his sixth Race to Dubai
“Look, my comfort level around this place, it’s always been there ever since the first time we played back in 2009,” McIlroy said. “But the course is set up different. I need to do a better job of hitting the fairways.”
McIlroy struggled with his driver mid-round but feels confident he can get the job done if he avoids the heavy rough.
“Look, I’m so comfortable around this place and I’ve had success before. So I’m liking my chances going into the weekend.”
Tom McKibbin was also upbeat, but with Rozner projected to leap to first in the battle for those 10 PGA Tour cards, McKibbin fell to 12th despite carding a 70 that left him tied 16th on three-under.
“We’ll try and tidy up a few things, but overall, I’ve been pretty happy to shoot two rounds under par so far,” McKibbin said.
Power move
At the PGA Tour’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship, Seamus Power carded a bogey-free, three-under 68 to dip inside the projected cut line at Port Royal.
He’s 54th in the FedEx Cup Fall Series with those ranked 51st to 60th after next week’s final event, the RSM Classic, guaranteed Signature Event starts in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Genesis Invitational next year.
He was eight shots behind Robby Shelton who posted a 64 to lead by one stroke in the clubhouse from Sam Ryder, who shot 62, on 10-under.
Alps Q School success for Irish
Meanwhile, Liam Nolan (T3), Marc Boucher (T18), John Murphy (T26) and Michael Young (T30) earned full cards awarded to the top 35 and ties at the Final Stage of the Alps Tour Qualifying School in Italy as Hugh Foley (T61) earned a Category 8 card.
Leona in peril
Leona Maguire is projected to miss next week’s CME Globe World Tour Championship after she missed the cut in The Annika at Pelican.
The Cavan star came into the week ranked 57th in Race to the CME Globe standings but after following an opening 72 with a level par 70, she was projected to slip to 61st and miss the season-ending event.
The top 60 points earners and ties earn a spot into the season finale with the entire field competing for a $11 million purse and $4 million winner’s cheque, which is the largest single prize in the history of women’s golf.
The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican is the last chance for players to earn their way into the final event of the LPGA Tour season, and those outside of the top-60 are fighting to secure their spot.
Gaby Lopez (-5, T8) is projected to move from 61st to 58th in her current position
Carlota Ciganda (-5, T8) is projected to move from 63rd to 60th in her current position
Leona Maguire (+2, T73) is projected to move from 57th to 61st in her current positio.
Ryann O’Toole (+4, T89) is projected to move from 55th to 59th in her current position
Hyo Joo Kim (+6, T104) is projected to move from 58th to 62nd in her current position
Stephanie Kyriacou (+6, T104) is projected to move from 60th to 63rd in her current position
The second round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge was suspended due to darkness at approximately 5:58 p.m. ET and will resume at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Charley Hull added a 66 to her opening 64 to lead by two shots from Nelly Korda on 10-under as she bids to end her two-year winning drought on the LPGA Tour.
Maguire made an excellent start with four birdies in her first six holes before she doubled bogeyed the par five seventh and bogeyed the eighth.
She got a shot back at the 11th but further bogeys at the 12th and 16th left her on the wrong side of the cut line.