Shane Lowry sets new course record to take three-shot lead as Rory McIlroy’s putter runs cold at Irish Open

Lowry fired nine birdies at the par-70 Trump International Golf Links and Hotel in Doonbeg to reach 11 under and hold a three-shot lead as he walked off the final hole.

It was a welcome return to form for the Irishman, who has had a disappointing season and not managed a top-20 finish since a runners-up spot at the Cognizant Classic in February.

McIlroy, by contrast, struggled to find momentum in his 69 and three-putted the last from little distance to trail Lowry by nine shots.

The defending champion and two-time winner of his home event hoped he could march through the field following a stunning eagle at the par-five eighth, McIlroy sending his second shot from 268 yards stone dead.

McIlroy had picked up an early birdie at the second but, with other opportunities slipping by, the six-time major champion gave the shot back at the short seventh after finding a greenside bunker.

The brilliant eagle got him back under par for the day and that looked like being the launchpad to climb up the leaderboard.

But McIlroy did not take advantage of the par-five 10th after being seemingly disturbed by a camera shutter in his backswing and sending his approach shot off target.

McIlroy then failed to get up and down on the 11th to suffer a second bogey and, although he found a birdie at the 17th, he was punished at the last by some careless work on the green.

“The course was certainly gettable and there were some pretty low scores out there,” McIlroy told Sky Sports.

“I felt like I hit it well enough to shoot a low one but I just couldn’t get the putter going at all.

“The last two days the greens have confused me a little bit and I’ve been struggling to read them. But I hopefully turn it around tomorrow and try to get myself back in it.”

At least, after taking six hours and 10 minutes to get round in blustery conditions on Thursday, McIlroy and playing partners Brooks Koepka and Robert MacIntyre completed their rounds in just under five hours.

MacIntyre carded a 65 to stand at three under but five-time major champion Koepka – who followed his opening round of 75 with 66 – was in danger of missing the cut at one over.

Lowry, who won this tournament in 2009 as a 22-year-old amateur, was playing right behind McIlroy and the galleries grew following birdies on three, four and five.

He drained a long range putt at seven and prospered again on eight and nine to reach the turn in just 30, his best front nine in 65 rounds at the Irish Open.

Further birdies at 11 and 12 put Lowry on ’59 watch’, but he was off target from distance on 13 and lipped out a three-footer for bogey.

Lowry bounced back at 15 and Denmark’s Jakob Skov Olesen was his closest challenger three behind as the home favourite finished to huge applause.

Patrick Reed and Jon Rahm remain in contention on four under and three under after shooting 68 and 67 respectively.

England’s Richard Mansell had earlier posted a new course-record 63 before being eclipsed by Lowry.