ABU DHABI – Shane Lowry overcame an early wobble in his second round to shoot a battling two-under-par 70 to stay atop the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the Abu Dhabi Championship on Thursday.
The Irishman, who is searching for his first win since the World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational in August 2015, shot a bogey-free course record-equalling 10-under 62 in the opening round on Wednesday, but dropped two shots early in his second round.
But the 31-year-old knuckled down and did not make any major mistakes. Four birdies from there on were good enough for a one-shot advantage over the South African duo of Louis Oosthuizen and Richard Sterne, who both added 68s to their opening-round 65s.
Lee Westwood had set the clubhouse pace after the morning rounds with a 68.
That gave him solo possession of fourth place at 10-under, where he could have been joined by compatriot Ian Poulter if not for a bogey on the final hole after finding water off the tee.
Two-time defending champion Tommy Fleetwood made the cut on the number – at three-under par – courtesy a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-five 18th hole.
American world number two Brooks Koepka, the highest-ranked player in the field, shot a 70 and was five off the pace at seven-under par.
Lowry made bogeys on the second and third holes, but his turnaround after that was remarkable, considering he did not make a single birdie on the four par-five holes.
“I’m really happy with that. Look, I knew today was going to be a bit of a weird day after shooting such a low score yesterday. I just tried to go out and play like I played,” said Lowry, ranked 75th in the world.
“To be honest, right from the start, I really feel like I played pretty good today. I think I gave myself a lot of chances.
“I didn’t hole that much. I didn’t birdie any of the par-fives. Some of the shots early on were pretty horrendous, so I battled back and hit some really nice shots out there.”
📽️ The best of Shane Lowry's second round in under 3 minutes... #ADGolfChamps #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/vPxrZ9kUWY
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 17, 2019
Sterne was bogey-free for the second day running, while 2010 British Open champion Oosthuizen survived a brace of dropped shots after the turn.
Oosthuizen, who recently won the South African Open, was motoring along nicely with three birdies on the front nine, but pulled his second shot way left on the par-five 10th.
He needed to take a penalty drop, and wound up making a bogey.
Louis Oosthuizen's second round highlights 🎥 #ADGolfChamps #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/eBchzKKHIk
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 17, 2019
“It was going nice and strong, and then got a bit derailed on the 10th. Made a bogey, and the rhythm was a little broke there,” said the World No 26, who bounced back with consecutive birdies on the 13th and 14th holes.
World No 3 Dustin Johnson shot a one-under 71 to make the cut, but Henrik Stenson missed out despite a two-under 70.