Home heroes Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry remain in contention going into the weekend at the 2024 Irish Open at Royal County Down Golf Club, while 2016 PGA Champion Jimmy Walker is also safely through to round three.
However, there has already been some disappointment for the rest of the American contingent in the field, and more looks likely to follow on Friday. As it stands, Walker is the only player from the United States who will make the cut, which stands at +2.
That, of course, is subject to change depending on how the players who have yet to complete their second round perform.
Irish stars McIlroy and Lowry in position to challenge
McIlroy’s 1-under par 70 on Friday leaves him on -3 for the tournament and means he will start the weekend one shot behind English duo Todd Clements and Laurie Canter. Other players, though, will have the opportunity to leapfrog that trio at the top later on Friday.
Lowry and two-time PGA Tour winner Robert MacIntyre are level with Walker, three strokes further back on -1.
Which players could miss the cut at the 2024 Irish Open?
Americans Sean Crocker (+5) and James Nicholas (+7) won’t be sticking around for the weekend, while Johannes Veerman (+3), who has also finished his second round, will have to hope the cut moves back a shot.
John Catlin, who won the tournament in 2020, Jordan Gumberg, Gunner Wiebe and Chase Hanna are the other U.S. players currently outside the cut line.
2024 Irish Open: projected cut at +2
+3: Johannes Veerman*, Ryan Fox*, Yannik Paul*, Luke Donald, Jordan Gumberg
+4: John Catlin, Gunner Wiebe, Rafa Cabrera Bello*, Padraig Harrington, Nicolai Hojgaard
+5: Sean Crocker*
+6: Chase Hanna
+7: James Nicholas*, Thomas Detry
+9: Edoardo Molinari*
* denotes player has finished his second round
European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald and three-time major winner Padraig Harrington are also among the players who have a fight on their hands to get themselves above the cut line.
What’s the 2024 Irish Open prize purse?
There is a $6 million total prize purse at Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, where the winner is due to receive a prize cheque for $1.02 million.