Pre-tournament favourite Rory McIlroy missed the Irish Open cut for the second year in succession despite carding a two-under-par 69 in round two at the Fota Island Resort in County Cork on Friday.
The world No. 6, let down by an opening 74 in perfect conditions the previous day, lost out by one stroke as he finished with a one-over total of 143.
Finn Mikko Ilonen, the overnight leader, followed his opening course-record 64 with a 68 to stay in front on 10-under 132.
Photo: AFP
Ilonen was two shots ahead of Frenchman Romain Wattel (65), England’s Robert Rock (66) and Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell (66).
McIlroy, who was joint 23rd at the US Open on Sunday last week, had been looking to move to the top of the Race to Dubai money list and back into the top five of the world rankings.
“It’s very frustrating,” said the Northern Irishman, who won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last month. “To miss the cut for the second year in a row is not a nice position to be in.”
McIlroy needed to finish birdie-eagle to qualify for the weekend and although he 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.
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