Shane Lowry hits course-record 62 in County Clare to lead Irish Open

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lowry-shane/pAUj2FN5/"]Lowry[/a], the 2019 British Open champion, fired nine birdies to lead China's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/haotong-li/Asfe84Ed/"]Li Haotong[/a] and Danish pair [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/olesen-jacob-skov/SWXicjzB/"]Jacob Skov Olesen[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/moller-niklas-norgaard/MFXif4jg/"]Niklas Norgaard[/a] by three shots after two rounds at Donald Trump's Doonbeg resort in County Clare.[/p][p]The only blemish for the Irishman came with a bogey on the par-four 13th, but he recovered to birdie the 15th and move to 11 under par.[/p][p][b]"It was good fun out there,"[/b] said Lowry, who revelled in the vocal home support.[/p][p][b]"I got off to a nice start and then I just kept going. I felt great out there. Just kept my foot on the gas and tried to keep hitting good shots and keep holing putts and it was a nice day."[/b][/p][p]He added: [b]"The crowds were amazing out there today. They support me along the way and it was nice to give them something to shout about."[/b][/p][embed guid="b560c236-0a99-4cc5-9a4a-9309ac9c4cdf" url="https://x.com/DPWorldTour/status/2098398598824091813?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Six-time major winner [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcilroy-rory/djwanksN/"]McIlroy[/a] struggled to find momentum in a second successive 69, despite a brilliant eagle at the eighth hole, and three-putted the final hole from close range to trail Lowry by nine shots.[/p][p]The County Down native said his main emotion was frustration.[/p][p][b]"I felt like I hit it well enough to shoot a low one, but I just couldn't get the putter going at all,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"The last two days the greens have confused me a little bit, been struggling to read them, but I can hopefully turn it around tomorrow."[/b][/p][embed guid="0117ff97-370e-491c-a51b-8918559d9112" url="https://x.com/DPWorldTour/status/2098400292286943542?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]First-round leader [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/niemann-joaquin/APN2KeX1/"]Joaquin Niemann[/a] was five under for the tournament after a level-par 70, in a tie with four other golfers.[/p][p]US President Trump is set to attend the tournament at the weekend during a two-day visit to Ireland.[/p]