The $6 million event needs a big Irish presence to keep the 15,000 sellout crowds happy this weekend, and McIlroy and Lowry are well in the mix at the storied Newcastle links.
World number three McIlroy made an eagle at the first, his 10th, en route to a one-under 70 that left him tied for third on four-under, just one stroke behind clubhouse leaders Todd Clements and Laurie Canter on four-under-par.
With Lowry just four shots off the pace on one-under after a 69, amateur Sean Keeling in on level par after a 72 and Holywood’s Tom McKibbin also through on one-over after he birdied his final hole to card a 69, there will be no shortage of home interest.
Shane Lowry of Ireland reacts reacts to a rule official on the 9th green during day two of the Amgen Irish Open Golf Championship 2024 at the Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, Down. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
“Yeah, it’s great,” McIlroy said. “It’s always good for a National Open for the home guys to be playing well.
“I saw Shane shot a couple under today. Tom played great, too. Got himself in for the weekend. Not too far out of it either. It’s always good to have that home interest, and it will get the crowd going over the weekend.
“We have played a few National Opens, and what Bob MacIntyre did this year (winning the Scottish Open), it’s a big deal for the home guys to play well in their National Open and obviously, this is no different, and to have a few of us up there around the lead, it only enhances the tournament even more.”
Lowry was disappointed to close with a bogey at the ninth, but at one-under, he’s looking forward to a potential head-to-head with McIlroy for the title on Sunday.
“I know I can go and give it a run,” Lowry said after he followed a birdie at the 12th with a bogey at the 16th before racing up the leaderboard with birdies at the 18th, first and second.
“I think it’s what the tournament wants and needs. Obviously myself, and Rory is up there. It would be great if the two of us could give it a run on Sunday.
“You never know. It would be nice to go toe-to-toe on Sunday. We’ll see. It’s up to me to get myself there. I’m pretty sure he’ll get there, anyway.”
McIlroy played well enough to shoot in the sixties in benign morning conditions but turned in level par as he followed a bogey at the 14th with a birdie from 26 feet at the tough 15th, then eagled the first from 13 feet only to hand back a shot at the fifth.
“Probably a little disappointed with the first nine holes,” he said.
“Played in benign conditions and I didn’t feel like I took advantage of those conditions, and to only play the back nine in even par when I felt like I should have played it two or three-under but played okay coming in.
“It’s great to get a couple of good solid rounds under my belt, and as I said, I’m excited to be here for the weekend and get another couple of rounds here.
“It’s not just a bonus that I’m in contention, but I just want to go out and try to play with the same attitude and the same patience, and that’s what this course demands, and if I can do that over the weekend, hopefully, I’ll have a good shot.
“I had a decent chance at The K Club last year as well. I feel like I’m fortunate; I get great support everywhere I go. But when I come home, not far from where I grew up, especially with a chance to win the tournament, I’m excited to play in that atmosphere over the weekend.”
Lowry felt he might have gone lower, but he too was happy with his lot, despite making bogeys at the driveable 16th and at the ninth, where he missed a tricky four-footer for par after a poor approach.
“I felt like I hit some great shots,” Lowry said. “Drove the ball brilliantly. I gave myself a few chances, and then, yeah, the last was smelly.
“Obviously, 16 was a big kick in the you know what. To hit that drive and then come off with five was pretty disappointing. Felt like I got myself going pretty well after that.
“To finish like that, look, to come in here and talk to you guys after 10, 15 minutes is pretty disappointing but when I go back and assess my round, I’ll be pretty happy with what I did today.”
Overnight leader Clements shot a level par 71 to lead on five-under alongside Canter, who shot 68 with McIlroy tied for third with Alejandro del Rey, who was eight-under with four holes to go before running up a quadruple bogey eight at the 15th.