Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry head into the weekend still six shots off the lead at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event after a costly finish to their initially-promising second round.
The defending champions finished their round in the day-two foursomes format with back-to-back bogeys to drop them into a nine-way tie for 16th place after recording a three-under par round of 69 around TPC Louisiana.
The pair had been six under through 12 holes and just two shots off the lead, with the highlight again an eagle three at the par-five second for the second successive day.
However, they went went three over for the closing six holes with a bogey at the par-four 13th soon followed by two more at the par-three 17th and par-five 18th.
American duo Isaiah Salinda and Kevin Velo continue to lead the way although they too shot 69 on Friday a day after their stunning 14-under 58 in the fourballs.
Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin are on 16-under after a second-round 66, with Denmark’s Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaar two back after following up their opening 59 with a 70.
English duo David Skinns and Ben Taylor are tied fifth after a second-round 67.
But Collin Morikawa and his playing partner Kurt Kitayama failed to make the cut after shooting a three-over 75, missing the 10-under safety mark by two shots.
’11 under the worst score we could have had’
For McIlroy and Lowry there was end-of-day disappointment but also optimism too that they were playing well enough to force their way back into contention by Sunday’s second alternate shot round.
“It’s hard to not think [that] we were six under through 12, cruising, and then a bit of a bad finish,” said McIlroy, who is playing for the first time since his historic Masters triumph.
“But it didn’t feel like we played that badly to have the finish that we did. A couple of loose shots here and there. It’s hard. [Saturday] it will be hard to be patient because the fourball format you just have to try and make as many birdies as you can.
“We know that we are really good at the foursomes format, we showed that today for the most part, so if we can climb back into contention within a few shots of the lead going into Sunday we feel like we’ll be in a good position.”
Lowry added: “We’re obviously disappointed. I feel like 11 under is the worst score we could be for two days right now with our finish yesterday and today.
“But I feel like if we can go low [on Saturday] and get into the 20s under par and get after it then on Sunday. Like we showed today, foursomes is our thing and we can make ground on the field there.”
Further eagles like their one on the 562-yard par-five second would certainly help that quest.
After McIlroy had left him perfectly in the middle of the fairway off the tee, Lowry hit a sensational 242-yard approach shot into the back of the green, before the new Masters champion then played his part again by sinking the 11-foot putt.
“I’m enjoying myself playing from about 340 [yards] down the middle of every fairway!” quipped Lowry in a nod to his team-mate’s prowess off the tee.
Watch the Zurich Classic of New Orleans throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports. Early coverage continues on Saturday from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf ahead of full coverage from 6pm, with extra action on Sky Sports+. Get Sky Sports or stream with NOW.
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