McIlroy and Lowry stay six off Zurich Classic pace

Second-round leaderboard for Zurich Classic

-17 I Salinda &amp, K Velo (US), -16 B Griffin &amp, A Novak (US), -15 R Hojgaard &amp, N Hojgaard (Den), -14 J Bridgeman &amp, C Phillips (US)

Selected: -13 D Skinns &amp, B Taylor (Eng), -12 A Rai &amp, S Theegala (Eng/US), -11 R McIlroy &amp, S Lowry (NI/Ire), R MacIntyre &amp, T Detry (Sco/Bel)

Missed cuts: -9 M. Fitzpatrick & A. Fitzpatrick (Eng), -8 C. Morikawa & K. Kitayama (US), M. Wallace & T. Olesen (Eng/Den), -5 L. Donald & C. Villegas (Eng/Col).

After dropping three late shots in New Orleans, defending champions Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry held onto the lead at halfway through the Zurich Classic.

Following their eight-under-par fourball round of 64 on Thursday, the Irish duo had already started the day six adrift.

After playing their opening 12 holes of play on Friday in the six-under-par format, they appeared to be closer to the leaders, but their late errors included bogeys at the final two holes, which gave them a 69.

After carding a 69, US rookies Kevin Velo and Isaiah Salinda kept their lead.

McIlroy, who is competing in his first event since winning the Masters two weeks ago, said, “We were six under through twelve and cruising and then a little bit of a bad finish.”

“A few loose shots here and there,” the quote is.

After 12 holes, McIlroy and the Irish duo were tied for second place with one more birdie, with McIlroy hole a 11-foot eagle putt at the second.

However, McIlroy’s approach on 13 caused them to miss the green when they were unable to find the greens in regulation. Further shots then went at the final two holes.

Before Sunday’s foursomes finale, Saturday’s round will return to the fourball format.

The fourball format requires you to make as many birdies as possible, according to the Masters champion, making it difficult to remain patient until tomorrow.

With Danish twins Rasmus and Nicolai Hojgaard one stroke off the pace, Velo and Salinda lead their fellow US players by one shot, while Nicolai Hojgaard and Ben Griffin are two further shots back.

After firing a 67 on Friday with their compatriot Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala one shot further back, English pair David Skinns and Ben Taylor are now tied for fifth place four shots off the pace.

Robert MacIntyre of Scotland and Thomas Detry of Belgium, who both shot a 69 on Friday, share 16th place in the group that includes McIlroy and Lowry.

The fourball component allows the foursomes to alternately play with one ball and hit their own ball with the best score count.