Lowry chasing red-hot Fitzpatrick in RBC Heritage

Shane Lowry after his hole in one at the Masters. Picture: Augusta National

Shane Lowry needs a red-hot weekend to soothe his Masters hangover and contend for his first individual win since 2022 in the $20 million RBC Heritage.

The Offaly man admitted after an opening 70 that Sunday's gut-wrenching 80 at the Masters was a bitter blow after playing so well for the first three days.

He also insisted that he would not throw in the towel in his bid for another win, and while that was evident as he battled hard to card a two-under 69 at Harbour Town Golf Links, he was 11 shots behind early leader Matt Fitzpatrick on three under at the halfway mark.

"This game has given me a lot of punches in the gut this year," Lowry said of the disappointment of Augusta National, which came hot on the heels of missed opportunities at the Dubai Invitational and the Cognizant Classic.

"It's testing me a little bit, but, you know, I'm not going to stop working hard. I'm not going to give up, and I'm going to give my best for as long as I may be playing this game."

While three three-putts didn't help Lowry's cause last Sunday, especially the first of them at the fourth, hitting fewer fairways that day than everyone bar playing partner Sam Burns made it impossible to maintain his challenge.

He rectified that by hitting 75 per cent of his fairways over the first two days on Hilton Head Island, but while he was three under after 11 holes, he bogeyed the 14th and had to scramble for pars on the last three holes.
Fitzpatrick was in a different league, carding eight birdies to add a bogey-free 63 to his first round 65 and lead by five shots in the clubhouse on 14 under from Patrick Cantlay, who shot 64.

"Played really well again," said 2023 champion Fitzpatrick, who outscored world number one Scottie Scheffler for the second day running as the American followed a 68 with a 67 to trail by seven shots.

"I really felt like I was solid all around, all across the board, and it was nice to get a few extra (putts) to go in as well."

Lowry clearly has the game to win more Majors, but Pádraig Harrington needs a low-scoring weekend to add to his three senior Major wins in the Senior PGA Championship in Florida.

He was one over for his round with five holes to play at The Concession Golf Club, but after making three birdies in a row from the 15th, he double-bogeyed the 18th.

A level par 72 left the Dubliner on four-under, six strokes behind Australian Scott Hend (65) and Brian Gay (68), who led by two shots in the clubhouse from Stewart Cink (67) and Ben Crane (69) on 10 under.

On the Ladies European Tour, Anna Foster is just five shots off the lead at halfway in the Joburg Ladies Open at Randpark Golf Club.

The Elm Park talent (24) birdied five of her last ten holes to add a four-under 69 to her opening 71 and share 15th place on six-under par.

France's Celine Herbin shot 67 and American Brianna Navarrosa a 69 to lead by a shot on 11-under par from France's Camille Chevalier, who shot a best of the day 66.

Olivia Mehaffey was three shots outside the cut mark on one-over with three holes to play when play was suspended due to darkness, while Lahinch's Aine Donegan missed out on eight-over after a 73.