Shane Lowry Sets Doonbeg Record to Take Irish Open Halfway Lead

Shane Lowry delighted the home galleries with a course-record 62 at Doonbeg to take a three-shot lead into the weekend of the Amgen Irish Open.

The Irishman made nine birdies and one bogey on Friday, reaching 11 under par after adding an 8-under round to his opening 67. Haotong Li and Danish pair Jacob Skov Olesen and Niklas Nørgaard share second place at 8-under.

Lowry, 39, began the second round two strokes behind Joaquín Niemann after difficult wind and rain shaped Thursday’s scoring. Calmer conditions presented more opportunities on the par-70 links, and the 2009 champion took full advantage.

Lowry reaches the turn in 30

Lowry began his scoring run with three consecutive birdies from the third, converting a 22-foot putt at the 4rth between precise approaches at the 3rd and 5th.

Further gains at the 7th, 8th and 9th took him to the turn in 30. A par save at the 10th kept his round going before successive birdies at the 11th and 12th moved him to 8-under for the round.

His only dropped shot came with a three-putt bogey at the 13th, but he responded by holing from 19 feet at the 15th. A 5-iron into the final green produced one last opportunity, although the birdie putt that would have delivered a 61 stopped short.

The resulting 62 was Lowry’s fourth on the DP World Tour and the lowest competitive score recorded at Doonbeg.

“It was real fun out there,” Lowry said. “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.”

Lowry identified his par save at the 10th as the highlight of the round and praised the spectators lining the County Clare links.

“The crowds were amazing out there today,” he said. “They support me along the way and it was nice to give them something to shout about.”

Li and Danish pair lead the chase

Li carded a 63, with an eagle-birdie-birdie sequence from the tenth moving him into contention. He is seeking his first made cut at the Irish Open since 2015.

Olesen and Nørgaard each returned 64s. Both arrived after sharing second place at the British Masters, while Nørgaard completed a bogey-free round with a closing birdie.

Rasmus Højgaard shot 63 to reach 7-under alongside first-round leader Niemann, Tom McKibbin, Ewen Ferguson and Kazuma Kobori. Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed is another shot back in a tie for tenth.

Related: Mallet or Blade Putter? What the Tour Players Use and What the Testing Shows

More than 90 per cent of the world's top 50 now putt with a mallet, and the 2026 PGA Tour winners' list is dominated by one shape. But blades still won majors this year, and the head style is only part of the fitting story.

For the latest news in the golfing world, follow us on X.