Updated 21:15
REPLICATING A RECORD-BREAKING first day was always going to prove a tough task for Rory McIlroy at the Scottish Open. Nonetheless, few of the spectators that watched him tee off just after 1pm this afternoon would have expected the undiluted catastrophe that followed.
The world number eight set a course record of 64 at Royal Aberdeen, on Thursday, but failed to fire in the early stages of his second round. McIlroy plummeted from -7 to level par after an error-strewn round of 78 that included a run of double bogey, bogey, bogey on 12, 13 and 14. His second round was 14 shots worse than his brilliant opener.
Kristoffer Broberg of Sweden and Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez currently lead the way on -6, alongside hometown favourite MarcWarren, who shot a 69. The big movers on day two were Justin Rose [-5] and Miko Ilonen [-3], who both had rounds of 68.
Shane Lowry has the best completed round of all the event’s Irish competitors. The Offaly native carded a second round 68 to move up to -2 on the leaderboard, tied for eighth. He is joined there by Michael Hoey, who carded a disappointing 74 today.
Darren Clarke picked up an early shot to move up to -3 but dropped three shots over the course of two holes [14 and 15] to fall back to level par. He is joined there by Waterford’s Kevin Phelan.
Damien McGrane and Padraig Harrington are both +1 but will comfortably make the weekend cut. Gareth Maybin [+2] squeaked in but Simon Thornton [+3] misses out. Team Europe Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley finished back on +5.
In the Women’s British Open, Mo Martin leads by three after carding back to back 69s. Northern Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow [+9] missed the cut.
– First published at 14:30
