Birdie blitz sees Offaly's Lowry storm into lead at Irish Open
Golfer seeking second home title goes four shots clear after first nine on day two at Doonbeg
SHANE Lowry is the outright leader of the Irish Open after blitzing the Doonbeg course on Friday morning.
The Offaly golfer shot six super birdies in the opening nine holes on day two to zoom up the field.
As he turned for home Lowry was on nine under and four shots ahead of a group of five players.
After shooting 67 on day one, the 39-year-old opened the second morning with pars on the first and second and then went on a run of three back to back birdies.
He had a par on the sixth but was quickly into his stride again, stringing together another three birdies to leave all his rivals trailing in his wake.
The Clara man is seeking a second Irish Open after winning his first as an amateur at Baltray back in 2009.
After turning professional he won the Portugal Masters in 2012, the Bridgestone Invitational in the US in 2015, and most famously, the Open Championship in Portrush in 2019.
He won the BMW PGA in 2022 and has also enjoyed Ryder Cup triumphs.
With this morning's exploits in Co Clare, he has now given himself a great chance of winning another Irish Open after completing the first half of his second round in a remarkable 30 strokes.