Lowry sets halfway target at Royal Troon Open

Shane Lowry birdied the last hole to set the clubhouse target at seven under on an increasingly blustery second day of the Open Championship at Royal Troon.

The Irishman rolled in a 20-footer as he followed his opening 66 with a two-under 69 on the Ayrshire coast.

World number one Scottie Scheffler is among his closest challengers after he hit a 70 to join fellow American Billy Horschel and South African Dean Burmester on two under.

Tiger Woods once again drew the biggest following of the morning starters and was afforded a huge ovation on the 18th as he closed with a par that left him at 14 over.

There has been much speculation regarding the three-time Open champion's future, given his lack of competitiveness after missing the cut at the past three majors, as he continues to recover from injuries sustained in a 2021 car crash.

However, when asked if he would be at Portrush for next year's Championship, the 48-year-old replied: "Definitely."

Woods' playing partners Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele will both be here for the weekend. They are both at one under although Cantlay's 68 was four shots better than his good friend could manage.

England's Dan Brown, the surprise overnight leader on six under, is out on the course with the later starters, along with the likes of Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, England's Justin Rose and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy.

The 2019 champion birdied the first, fourth and eighth holes in relatively benign conditions as he reached seven under at the turn. But all his patient work threatened to unravel on the feared Railway.

The par-four 11th has been the toughest hole at the past three Troon Opens and Lowry found trouble off the tee with a slightly wayward drive into rough. From there he hit what former Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew called an "inexplicable hook" straight across the fairway and deep into a gorse bush.

He eventually stalked off the green with a double-bogey six and back where he started the day.

However, he steadied himself with four straight pars before closing with birdies on the 16th and 18th holes to set a target that may be tough to catch given the 30mph winds that are blowing across the course.

More to follow.