Lowry misses Madrid cut as McKibbin eyes Masters debut and Open return; Carey okay at Q-School
Tom McKibbin. Picture: LIV Golf
Tom McKibbin roared into contention for his Masters debut and a return to The Open as Shane Lowry missed the cut in the Open de España in Madrid.
The LIV Golf star (22) made an eagle and five birdies in a superb six-under 65 at the Club de Campo to jump into a tie for 11th on six under.
The Newtownabbey talent, who is bidding for his second DP World Tour win and his first since 2023, trails England's Marco Penge by just three strokes.
With the winner earning a start at Augusta National and the leading non-exempt player a spot in The Open at Royal Birkdale, it's a big weekend for McKibbin, who has not yet qualified for any of next year's majors.
Penge, who could move up to second behind Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai if he wins for the third time this season, felt his game was only at "seven out of ten".
He still added a bogey-free 67 to his opening 66 to lead by a shot from Denmark's Jeff Winther, Switzerland's Joel Girrbach and Canada's Aaron Cockerill on nine under.
Spain's Jon Rahm shot 66 to move to four under in his quest for his fourth Spanish Open win, but his playing partners, Lowry and defending champion Angel Hidalgo, missed the level par cut.
Hidalgo missed out by three shots after a 75, but Lowry came up just one stroke shy after a 68.
Despite opening with a bogey, Europe's Ryder Cup hero made five birdies to get back to level par with four holes to play.
But a bogey at the 16th, where he drove into sand, flew the green with his second and missed a three-and-a-half-footer for par, proved costly, and he couldn't make a 14-footer for birdie at the last to make the weekend.
“Gutted to miss the cut but gave it my all today after a slow start,” Lowry said on X. “Great to spend a couple of days with Rahmbo and Ángel at their national open.
“National opens are the best and this week in Madrid didn’t disappoint. Thanks to all the fans who came out to support. I definitely felt the love this week.”
Conor Purcell withdrew, citing injury, after his opening 81.
At the HotelPlanner Tour's Hainan Open, Liam Nolan shot level par 72 to make the cut on the mark and go into the weekend ten shots behind Germany's Jan Schneider.
But Max Kennedy, like Nolan, battling to win one of 20 DP World Tour cards, missed the cut by six after a 75.
Leona Maguire's second successive 72 left her 13 shots behind Japan's Minami Katsu in the Buick LPGA Shanghai, while in the LET's Hero Women's Indian Open, all four Irish rookies made the eight-over cut.
Annabel Wilson's level par 72 left her ten shots behind India's Hitaashee Bakshi on three over, while Canice Screene and Anna Foster were five and six over, respectively, after 75s and Sara Byrne seven over after a 74.
In the World Amateur Team Championships in Singapore, Ireland goes into the final round tied for 19th on one under.
Stuart Grehan shot a one-under 71 and Caolan Rafferty a 74 as John Doyle's 75 was discarded.
South Africa holds a massive 11-stroke lead over Australia and Mexico on 26 under.
Carey progresses at Korn Ferry Q-School; Rice misses out in France
David Carey closed with a two-over 74 but qualified with ease at the first stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Q-School in California.
The Dubliner tied for 10th at nine under at Bear Creek in Murrieta, as 19 players advanced.
At the last of 10 First Stage events at the DP World Tour Qualifying School, Tim Rice missed out by five shots.
The Limerick golfer (47) closed with a one-under 71 at Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil to finish tied 32nd on two under.
The top 17 and ties - 18 golfers - progressed on seven under or better.
