Defending champions Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry remain six shots off the lead at the halfway stage of the Zurich Classic after dropping three late shots in their second round in New Orleans.
The Irish pair, attempting to become the first team to defend the title successfully, began the day six strokes behind following their opening eight-under-par fourball round of 64. They appeared poised to close the gap after playing their first 12 holes on Friday in six under par in the foursomes format but stumbled with bogeys on their final two holes to card a 69.
American rookies Kevin Velo and Isaiah Salinda maintained their lead after also shooting a 69.
“We were six under through 12 and cruising, and then a bit of a bad finish, but I didn’t feel like we played that badly to have the finish that we did,” said McIlroy, competing for the first time since completing the career Grand Slam by winning the Masters two weeks ago. “A couple of loose shots here and there.”
McIlroy holed an 11-foot eagle putt on the second hole, and with four additional birdies, the Irish duo briefly climbed to a share of second place at 14 under after 12 holes. However, McIlroy missed the green with his approach on the 13th, costing them a stroke, and they dropped further shots on the final two holes when they failed to find the greens in regulation.
Saturday’s round will return to the four-ball format before Sunday’s foursomes finale.
“Tomorrow it will be hard to stay patient because in the four-ball format, you just have to try to make as many birdies as you can,” added the Masters champion.
Velo and Salinda lead fellow Americans Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak by one shot, with Danish twins Rasmus and Nicolai Hojgaard one stroke further back. English pair David Skinns and Ben Taylor share fifth place, four off the pace after firing a 67 on Friday, with their compatriot Aaron Rai and American Sahith Theegala one shot behind them.
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre and his Belgian partner Thomas Detry share 16th place in the group that includes McIlroy and Lowry after posting a 69 on Friday.
The four-ball format has both players hitting their ball with the best score counting, while foursomes requires players to take alternate shots with one ball.
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