Shane Lowry believes the golf course is there for the taking as he looks to land a first worldwide tour victory since 2022 at the DP World India Championship this weekend.
Lowry, who led overnight after an opening 64, followed up with a hard fought 69 to reach eleven-under-par and share second place with former Open champion Brian Harman, one shot behind Tommy Fleetwood who shot a 64.
Delhi Golf Club has provided a unique challenge for the players with Rory McIlroy electing not to use driver this week while Lowry has enjoyed the shot shaping element off the tee and the reliance on good iron play.
“I think you need to play this golf course the way you see it. There’s a lot of holes where you’re not hitting much off the tee and you’re trying to get it in play and that’s why I think it suits me,” said Lowry who has had several near misses in tournaments since winning the 2022 BMW PGA Championship.
“There’s a lot of mid-irons out there which is a strength of my game. Play to my strengths this week and hopefully I can be dangerous this weekend.”
Teeing off on the back nine, not much happened for the Offaly man who was frustrated after dropping a shot on the par-5 9th which cancelled out his birdie on 14.
He didn’t birdie the par-5 1st either but his frustrations mellowed and he finished strong with birdies on the 3rd, 6th and 8th to keep his hopes very much alive.
“I got off to a bit of a slow-ish start. Not much happened on the front nine, and then I made a stupid bogey on the par five from the middle of the fairway. Quite frustrated around the turn but I felt like I finished well, and I played some nice golf on the way in.
“Yeah, the course is there for the taking if you hit good shots, but if you hit it off-line it’s very, very tricky. I’m happy with my two days’ work.”
McIlroy carded back to back rounds of 69 for a six-under total which leaves him in a share of 17th place and six shots off the pace.
McIlroy opened with a bogey at the par-5 1st but responded with birdies on the 3rd and 8th. Back to back bogeys on 11 and 12 stalled his charge but he managed to keep himself just about in the frame for the weekend with four birdies in his last six holes.
Unfortunately there was bad news for Conor Purcell.
Despite a spirited round of 69 which included two birdies in his last three holes, the Portmarnock man missed the cut by one shot and unless he is given a stay of execution with an invite to Korea next week he will have to face the mammoth marathon task of Q-School next month to regain his DP World Tour playing rights.
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