Shane Lowry found himself in a familiar position at Bay Hill, leading by two strokes after a formidable display of skill and determination. Lowry, alongside Wyndham Clark, achieved the rare feat of breaking 70 at Bay Hill for consecutive days. The competition was fierce, with the 36-hole cut set at 4-over 148. Lowry's performance shone, marked by a 35-foot birdie putt on the 13th and an 18-foot birdie to close his round, placing him at 8-under 136. His friend Rory McIlroy witnessed this impressive feat firsthand.
Clark, who shared the 36-hole lead at Bay Hill last year and finished second, faced challenges on the course. He hit his drive out-of-bounds on the 15th but managed to escape with a double bogey after sinking a critical 20-foot putt. Reflecting on his game, Clark expressed his emotions on the course.
"I don't know if I've ever fist-pumped a double bogey," – Wyndham Clark
Clark's competitive spirit was evident as he explained his reaction to the challenging situation.
"I was pissed off with the tee shot, and I knew it was important to keep the momentum. Any shot is important. I don't fist pump that much, but to me it just was more of like an internal thing like 'Let's go!' And gave me kind of some momentum for the last three holes." – Wyndham Clark
Lowry's affinity for tough golf courses became apparent as he navigated Bay Hill's challenges. He emphasized the unique nature of success on difficult courses such as Bay Hill.
"It's funny, when you have success — especially on a difficult place like this — it doesn't mean you come here the next year and you have a God-given right to go and play well," – Shane Lowry
His love for rigorous tests in golf shone through as he commented on his approach to the game.
"I like the type of golf where any time you break 70 you feel like you've had a good day." – Shane Lowry
Elsewhere on the course, Xander Schauffele faced his own battles. After back-to-back double bogeys, he rallied with three birdies in the next four holes. His caddie, Austin Kaiser, humorously acknowledged Schauffele's journey to match Tiger Woods' record of 142 consecutive cuts made.
Justin Thomas experienced a setback with a double bogey from the bunker on the par-3 14th, but he quickly regained his stride with two birdies in the final three holes, carding a 70.
Max McGreevy found himself below the cut line but responded with remarkable resilience. He sank an 18-foot birdie putt on the 15th, followed by a two-putt birdie on the 16th and an 18-foot par putt on the 17th, ensuring his continued presence in the competition.
Clark maintained his composure despite challenges, briefly taking the lead when Lowry missed a short par putt on the par-5 16th. Meanwhile, Schauffele returned to the field after time off to recover from an intercostal strain and cartilage tear in his right rib.
With eighteen players remaining under par heading into the weekend, Scottie Scheffler expressed satisfaction with his standing among them. The stage is set for an exciting continuation of play.
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