Australian golfer Lucas Herbert built up a two-stroke lead after the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open on Friday while hometown hero Rory McIlroy moved up the leaderboard after carding a five-under 67 on Friday.
Herbert also fired a 67 in the second round at Mount Juliet to move to 13-under and two clear of Andy Sullivan (66) and Grant Forrest (67).
McIlroy is now eight shots back after carding five birdies with Open champion Shane Lowry (67) also five-under. Graeme McDowell (67) is on the projected cut line of three under.
Lowry started his bid for a second Irish Open triumph with a 70 on Thursday while McIlroy is the best of the home contingent after improving on his opening 72.
Herbert posted eight birdies to go along with a bogey and double-bogey at the third to stay in front - heading into the final two rounds.
McIlroy felt he could have done even better after surging through his first 10 holes in five under before eight successive pars. “I got off to a better start and once you do that, you make a couple of birdies early, you start to feel like you can make a few more,” McIlroy said.
“The greens were much better this morning than they were yesterday afternoon as well so it felt a little easier to hole putts and that’s really what I did.”
McIlroy initially had a poor record in the Irish Open and missed the cut for three years in succession. He won at the K Club in 2016 and donating the prize money to his foundation, which was hosting the event.
“Everything was just a little bit better today and it just added up to a better score,” he added.
“It could have been a little better than what it was, playing the two par fives in even par on the front nine. I missed a couple of chances too, but it was better.”
Matsuyama withdraws
Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama has tested positive for COVID-19 and withdrawn from this week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, the PGA Tour said on Friday.
The Japanese world No. 18 played the opening round on Thursday with six-times major champion Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler and shot an even-par 70 at Detroit Golf Club that left him seven shots back of the leader.
“It’s disappointing to receive this news,” said Matsuyama, promising to take all necessary precautions.
“I look forward to a full recovery and returning to competition as soon as possible.” Matsuyama, who in April became the first Japanese man to win a golf major, is considered a contender to light the cauldron at the Tokyo Games’ opening ceremony on July 23 and is expected to compete in the Olympic golf competition from July 29.
Leaderboard
-13 Lucas Herbert (Australia) 64 67
-11 Grant Forrest (Scotland) 66 67
Andy Sullivan (England) 67 66
-10 Dale Whitnell (England) 67 67
-9 Christiaan Bezuidenhout (South Africa) 67 68
Richard Bland (England) 69 66
Adrian Otaegui (Spain) 69 66
Johannes Veerman (USA) 65 70
- With inputs from agencies
