Shane Lowry leads by two at Bay Hill, Rory McIlroy in tie for fifth

Lowry’s second round of 67 sees him two shots clear of Wyndham Clark.

SHANE LOWRY IS the leader at the halfway mark of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, with Rory McIlroy in a tie for fifth.

Lowry enjoys a two-shot lead over Wyndham Clark, who was the first round leader by two shots, after Offaly native carded a brilliant five-under 67 today to reach eight-under overall.

Lowry was one of the morning starters and reached the clubhouse as the leader by two shots, a position he remained in after the rest of the day’s action.

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Late tee time Saturday means morning watching Ireland v France 💪🏻☘️ @IrishRugby @SixNationsRugby
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) March 7, 2025

McIlroy’s second successive round of two-under 70 sees him four shots off the lead in a tie for fifth. A closing bogey on the 18th spoiled a strong back nine, after McIlroy had made birdies on 13, 16 and 17, before dropping a shot on the final hole for the second succesive day.

After yesterday’s 69 which also featured a bogey on the last, Lowry made his mark today with a storming start as he birdied the 2nd and 3rd, before picking up another shot on the 7th to reach the turn in 33.

orlando-fl-march-07-pga-golfer-shane-lowry-plays-his-tee-shot-on-the-13th-hole-during-the-second-round-of-the-arnold-palmer-invitational-presented-by-mastercard-on-march-7-2025-at-the-arnold-pal Shane Lowry. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

orlando-fl-march-07-pga-golfer-rory-mcilroy-plays-his-tee-shot-on-the-13th-hole-during-the-second-round-of-the-arnold-palmer-invitational-presented-by-mastercard-on-march-7-2025-at-the-arnold-pa Rory McIlroy. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Further birdies arrived on 10 and 13, before Lowry’s only bogey of the day occurred on the par-five 16th. Yet he responded brilliantly to sink a 17-foot putt on the last for birdie.

Clark’s round of 71 sees him in second place on six-under with Corey Conners and Collin Morikawa both in joint third on five-under. Morikawa made a significant move amongst the late starters with his round of 68 propelling him up the leaderboard.

McIlroy is joined by Russell Henley and Jason Day on four-under. Australian player Day had the round of the day, a stunning eight-under 64 which including five birdies on his back nine.

Keegan Bradley had made a strong charge to stand at six-under for the tournament after 12 holes of his second round, but his form unravalled thereafter with a bogey on 13, a double bogey on 15, a birdie on 16, and a bogey on 18.

World number one Scottie Scheffler is one-under after his second round of level par.