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| Photo from BBC Sport |
The crowd following him around Royal Portrush grew in size after he sank birdie after birdie.
The welcome he received at the 18th was as though he was in contention to win the title, not just make the cut.
His approach to the last green ended his hopes with the wind taking the ball down the bank, before landing a chip wide as his luck ran out.
His compatriot Darren Clarke, who opened the tournament on day one, was on a level par after 35 holes, but a triple bogey at the 18th today meant he just misses out.
Graeme McDowell sneaked through on one over, as did last year's champion Francesco Molinari, who carded a 69.
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| Photo from Golf.com |
Lowry has risen from world number 90 to 33 in the past year, due to a victory in Abu Dhabi in January and an eighth place finish at the US PGA Championship.
He tied for second at the 2016 US Open - his previous best finish at a major, bit now he will have his eyes on the Claret Jug.
Three-time Open champion and defending Masters champion Tiger Woods never even entertained the idea of a round two resurgence.
In 21 appearances at the Open, this is only the 15-time major winner's third failure to make the cut - only the 10th time in all majors.
But seven of those 10 have come in the last 13 tournaments.
His compatriot and long-standing rival Phil Mickelson ended on eight over for the championship with a 74 today.
It is the first time that Woods and 2013 champion Mickelson have both missed the cut at a major championship.
Other big names to miss the cut include former champions Paul Lawrie and Padraig Harrington, as well as Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter.
After a 91 for round one, another former champion David Duval showed a marked improvement with a 78 today - but he still ended on 27 over for the tournament.
World number one Brooks Koepka is alongside 2017 winner Jordan Spieth on five under.
The Americans are looking to complete a United States clean sweep of the majors in a calendar year for the first time since 1982.
Koepka is seeking his fifth major in two years, and followed his first round of 68 with a 69, while Spieth's eagle at the par-five seventh helped him on his way to a round of 67.
Australia's Cameron Smith and South Africa's Justin Harding are among those in contention, on six under.
England's Tommy Fleetwood and Lee Westwood are a shot back from the lead, with another Englishman, Justin Rose, on six under after a round of 67 in County Antrim.
Last year's US Open runner-up Fleetwood has improved at the Open over the past few years.
After missing the cut for three years in a row, before he tied for 27th in 2017 and tied 12th last year.
Fleetwood, whose last win was in Abu Dhabi in January 2018, holed six birdies in his second round helped to a round of four-under 67.
46-year-old Westwood has six top-three finished at the majors, his best a second-placed finish at the 2010 Open.
The Worksop man holed four birdies in a bogey free round of 67, alongside his girlfriend and caddie Helen Storey.
Last year saw Rose make a remarkable rise after only just making the cut to finish tied for second.
His second round of 67 gives him a much better platform to challenge for his second major after the 2013 US Open.
Day Two Leaderboard
-8 JB Holmes (USA), S Lowry (IRE)
-7 L Westwood (ENG), T Fleetwood (ENG)
-6 C Smith (AUS), J Harding (SA), J Rose (ENG)
-5 B Koepka (USA), J Spieth (USA), A Putnam (USA), D Frittelli (SA)
-4 J Rahm (SPN)
-3 T Hatton (ENG), D Johnson (USA), R Fowler (USA)
-2 E Els (SA), J Day (AUS)
-1 D Willett (ENG)
Level F Molinari (ITA)
Missed Cut
+2 R McIlroy (NIR)
+6 T Woods (USA)
+7 I Poulter (ENG)
+8 P Mickelson (USA)
MASTERS
Day One Report
Day Two Report
Day Three Report
Day Four Report
US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Day One Report
Day Two Report
Day Three Report
Day Four Report
US OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Day One Report
Day Two Report
Day Three Report
Day Four Report
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Day One Report
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