McIlroy out as Ilonen leads at Irish Open

Graeme McDowell speaks to the media after moving into join second place at Fota Island. Picture: Getty

McDowell carded a second round of 66 to lie just two shots off the halfway lead held by Finland’s Mikko Ilonen – who added a 68 to his opening course-record 64 – but Ryder Cup team-mate McIlroy could only manage an erratic 69 to miss the cut by a shot on one over.

“It’s very frustrating,” said the former world No 1, who won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last month. “To make six birdies and an eagle and shoot just two under means there were a lot of mistakes and wasteful shots. To miss the cut for the second year in a row is not a nice position to be in. It’s very disappointing.”

McIlroy needed to finish birdie-eagle to qualify for the weekend and, although he duly holed from long range on the 17th and hit a brilliant escape from the trees on the last, he was unable to chip in from the front of the green. “I’m proud of myself how I fought out there and didn’t give up and tried for the last shot,” added McIlroy after his first missed cut on the European Tour in 2014.

“I gave myself a chance to try to make the cut with the big birdie putt on 17, but just wasn’t meant to be. I just need to tighten it all up and become a lot more consistent, make the bad shots a little bit better and not be as wasteful around the greens. If I can do that, I know my game is right there.

“I’ve got a couple weeks off now to work on my game a little bit, play some links golf and get ready for the Scottish Open and the Open.”

McDowell made his tournament debut when Fota Island last hosted the event in 2002 and finished 27th, but that was one of just six halfway cuts the former US Open champion has made in 12 appearances. The 34-year-old has never recorded a top-10 finish but carded six birdies and one bogey to join 2009 runner-up Robert Rock and Romain Wattel on eight under par.

“There’s always a first time for everything,” McDowell joked. “I’ve been unhappy with my game now for a few months, really getting frustrated with myself in general and trying to be a little too perfect. I tried to loosen myself up a little bit and try to enjoy my golf a little bit.

“I’m surprised and excited to be in contention. Normally, there’s some pressure and expectation in the Irish Open. I think maybe coming off the US Open last week, with as much pressure and frustration and expectation as you feel there, perhaps that’s why I’m dealing with it a little bit better because it nearly feels like the proverbial walk in the park by comparison.

“This is a fun game to play. We are very lucky to play it for a living but last week bordered on the unenjoyable because the golf course was so frustratingly difficult.

“I’ve played in front of many big crowds before, but maybe none as passionate here as the Irish crowd. There’s nothing quite like it when a crowd is pulling for you and it’s a fun experience. It’s something I’ve never experienced before, except perhaps at a Ryder Cup.”

Italian Marco Crespi and English duo Simon Khan and Matthew Nixon were three off the pace on seven under, Nixon coming home in 31 to card a 65, the joint lowest score of the day.

After missing the cut in his last six events, none of which boasted fields as strong as this one, Andrew McArthur wouldn’t have been picked by many to be leading the Scottish challenge at the halfway stage.

After a flawless 67 in his second round, however, the former Scottish Amateur champion is handily placed, sitting joint 16th on four under, and now has the chance in the final two rounds to ignite his season. Joining him are just four of his compatriots – Chris Doak, Marc Warren, Alastair Forsyth and Jack Doherty.

Doak’s 70 for three under dropped him four spots to 26th, while the same second-day score from Warren left him joint 48th on one under. Doherty and Forsyth both signed for second straight 71s to just make it on level par, the latter doing so after he birdied the last.

Despite doing likewise, Paul Lawrie missed out by one, as did Richie Ramsay, while Ryder Cup hopeful Stephen Gallacher was two shots the wrong side of the cut mark along with Scott Jamieson and Duncan Stewart.