McIlroy misses Irish Open cut

Rory McIlroy missed the cut at the Irish Open after he could only shoot a one-over-par 73 on a morning of more favourable conditions at Portstewart.

Looking to retain the title he won in scintillating fashion at the K Club 12 months ago, the four-time major winner failed to shoot the low score he needed to get back into the fringes of contention after his opening day par-72 left him eight shots off the blistering pace set by American Daniel Im.

Indeed, with Im carding a second round 67, it would seem barring a major collapse from the host of afternoon starters, that the Northern Irishman will be watching the event he hosts from the sidelines over the weekend.

Beginning his round on the 10th hole, the 29-year-old's task got even tougher after he bogeyed 12 before back-to-back birdies from the 13th gave him hope.

However, another dropped shot on 16 - his seventh hole of the day - halted his momentum and despite regaining the stroke with a birdie on the next hole, McIlroy remained at -1 for the tournament with six holes left.

By this stage his goal was not so much getting back into contention and more just about making the cut but after picking up a birdie on the fourth, he carded his third bogey of an uneven round on the sixth.

The par-five seventh - his 16th hole of the round - offered McIlroy the chance to pick up vital shots but he could only par it and a double-bogey on the next sealed his fate.

Im meanwhile followed up his opening day 64 with another superb round and he sits on -13, 14 shots ahead of McIlroy.

Trailing in second place is Spanish youngster Jon Rahm who matched Im's 67 to lie on -12, one shot off the lead.

World number two Hideki Matsuyama added a second round score of 68 to his 67 from Thursday to move up into joint-fourth place on nine-under.

Paul Dunne leads the Irish challenge after the Greystones golfer carded a three-under-par 69 and he will start the weekend on -8.

Graeme McDowell (-5) and Shane Lowry (-4) are among the late Irish starters who will hope to shoot up the leaderboard while as McIlroy was trudging off his 18th hole, Gavin Moynihan was on the verge of contention with a score of -6 on his 12th hole of the day.

Image: Getty/Ross Kinnaird

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