Lowry gives an approach play masterclass at the Travelers, closing the gap to Kim.

Shane Lowry was a man with a mission on Friday as he set about dismantling the TPC River Highlands course in the inclement weather. His eight-under second round only matched this week by Travelers Championship leader Tom Kim on Thursday in Connecticut.

Lowry was quick out of the blocks on the first, his 337-yard drive taking a favourable kick left and forward giving him the perfect angle for his second. This would set the tone for his iron play on round two, a high second shot came down with snow on it to finish just two inches from the cup for a kick-in birdie and Lowry was up and running. He could have had another on the par-4 second too, his 11’ 10’’ putt sliding by to leave just under three feet for par.

Lowry continued his assault with his irons on the third as he seemed to have the ball on a string on his approach play. 120 yards for his second leaving himself an eight-footer to clean up for his second birdie of the day. More would follow as he hit the par-5 sixth hole. 280 to the heart of the fairway and a 245 yard second left the Offaly man just a 66-yard dink which he would knock stone dead, six inches for birdie number three. He would finish off his front nine with yet another towering approach to inside eight feet to turn for the day on four-under par.

It was rinse-and-repeat as Lowry began his back nine. Tee-to-green all day was imperious as he continued metronomically finding the middle of the fairways and the heart of the greens. Lowry was giving himself looks on every hole and he was taking them. Birdie-birdie to start his back nine, holing from ten-feet on the 10^th and draining a 19-footer on the following par-3 11^th. His highlight of the day (in a crowded field) had to be his eagle on the par-5 13^th. Not attacking the par-5s off the tee was the magic formula for the Clara man as his 264-247 opening two would find him safely on the dancefloor with just inside 25-feet for his eagle. No problem for Lowery who had all aspects of his game dialled on round two. Eight under for the day on the 14^th and with plenty of time to think about it as the hooter sounded and the weather rolled in.

The three-hour wait could have knocked the momentum Lowry had, but he was able to gather his thoughts and regroup to par his way home for the round of the day (-8) on the storm disrupted Friday. Even as he came home there were chances for more with a short miss for birdie on the 14^th, a chip to within seven inches on the 17^th and looks on the 16^th and 18^th. While he can take only positives out of his fine round, there could have been even more had the delay not happened.

Lowry ranked 1^st on scrambling and 1^st on sand saves, with 92 feet of putting on his way around River Highlands and heads into the weekend on the crest of a wave. More delays can be expected over the weekend as scattered thunderstorms are forecast for Cromwell Connecticut. This could play a major factor as the mental capacity to hold concentration over the disrupted rounds will be key. With all to play for still, the weekend at the Travelers Championship ’24 is shaping up nicely with major players as well as Lowry, such as Schauffele, Scheffler and Morikawa all lurking with intent just behind leader, Tom Kim.