Defending champions Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry remain six shots off the lead at the halfway stage of the Zurich Classic after dropping three late shots in their second round in New Orleans.
The Irish pair, attempting to become the first team to defend the title successfully, began the day six strokes behind following their opening eight-under-par fourball round of 64. They appeared poised to close the gap after playing their first 12 holes on Friday in six under par in the foursomes format but stumbled with bogeys on their final two holes to card a 69.
American rookies Kevin Velo and Isaiah Salinda maintained their lead after also shooting a 69.
“We were six under through 12 and cruising, and then a bit of a bad finish, but I didn’t feel like we played that badly to have the finish that we did,” said McIlroy, competing for the first time since completing the career Grand Slam by winning the Masters two weeks ago. “A couple of loose shots here and there.”
McIlroy holed an 11-foot eagle putt on the second hole, and with four additional birdies, the Irish duo briefly climbed to a share of second place at 14 under after 12 holes. However, McIlroy missed the green with his approach on the 13th, costing them a stroke, and they dropped further shots on the final two holes when they failed to find the greens in regulation.
Saturday’s round will return to the four-ball format before Sunday’s foursomes finale.
“Tomorrow it will be hard to stay patient because in the four-ball format, you just have to try to make as many birdies as you can,” added the Masters champion.
Velo and Salinda lead fellow Americans Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak by one shot, with Danish twins Rasmus and Nicolai Hojgaard one stroke further back. English pair David Skinns and Ben Taylor share fifth place, four off the pace after firing a 67 on Friday, with their compatriot Aaron Rai and American Sahith Theegala one shot behind them.
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre and his Belgian partner Thomas Detry share 16th place in the group that includes McIlroy and Lowry after posting a 69 on Friday.
The four-ball format has both players hitting their ball with the best score counting, while foursomes requires players to take alternate shots with one ball.
About the author
Trump and Zelenskyy Hold Private Meeting in Vatican During Pope’s Funeral
U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met one-on-one in St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday while in Rome for Pope Francis's funeral, attempting to revive peace efforts for the Russia-Ukraine war. According to Zelenskiy's office, the leaders spoke privately for approximately 15 minutes. This marked their first meeting since a tense February encounter in the Oval Office. "Good meeting. One-on-one, we managed to discuss a lot," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram afterward. He mentioned they discussed "protection of our people," "a complete and unconditional ceasefire," and "a reliable and lasting peace." The Ukrainian leader added, "It was a very symbolic meeting that has the potential to become historic if we achieve joint results." White House Communications Director Steven Cheung described the discussion as "very productive." Photos released by Zelenskiy's office showed the two leaders seated opposite each other in […]
Kneecap Responds to Criticism Over Gaza Messages at Coachella Performance
Belfast rap trio Kneecap have indicated they are pursuing legal action against what they describe as "false accusations of antisemitism" following controversy over messages about the Gaza conflict displayed during their Coachella festival performance. The Irish group projected statements accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians after their set during the second weekend of the California music event. The messages read, "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people," "It is being enabled by the US government, who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes," and "F*** Israel. Free Palestine." In response, former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne called for the revocation of the band's US work visas, describing their projections as "anti-Israel messages and hate speech." Kneecap's manager, Daniel Lambert, reported that the band has since received "severe" death threats. Addressing the criticism in an Instagram statement, Kneecap claimed […]
Masters Champion McIlroy and Partner Lowry Six Shots Behind at Zurich Classic Halfway Point
Defending champions Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry remain six shots off the lead at the halfway stage of the Zurich Classic after dropping three late shots in their second round in New Orleans. The Irish pair, attempting to become the first team to defend the title successfully, began the day six strokes behind following their opening eight-under-par fourball round of 64. They appeared poised to close the gap after playing their first 12 holes on Friday in six under par in the foursomes format but stumbled with bogeys on their final two holes to card a 69. American rookies Kevin Velo and Isaiah Salinda maintained their lead after also shooting a 69. "We were six under through 12 and cruising, and then a bit of a bad finish, but I didn't feel like we played that badly to have the […]
Trump Administration Reverses Course on International Student Visa Terminations
According to a Justice Department attorney at a Friday hearing in the Northern District of California, the Trump administration is restoring the legal status of international students whose records were terminated in recent weeks. Elizabeth D. Kurlan stated that international students' records will be reactivated while Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) develops a "framework for status record termination." This reversal follows the administration's recent revocation of hundreds of international student visas, their records, and legal statuses, particularly affecting those involved in political activism or with previous issues like DUIs. "ICE still maintains the authority to terminate a SEVIS record for other reasons, such as if a student fails to maintain his or her nonimmigrant status after the record is reactivated, or engages in other unlawful activity that would render him or her removable from the United States," Kurlan explained during […]
Suspect Nabbed After โฌ50K Jewel Heist in Dublin’s Luxury District
A man in his 20s has been arrested following the theft of โฌ50,000 worth of jewelry from a high-end store on Kildare Street in Dublin 2. Gardaรญ responded to reports of a burglary at approximately 2:45 am, with officers from Pearse Street station quickly arriving at the scene. Witnesses reported seeing a male suspect fleeing into St Stephen's Green park. Officers pursued the individual on foot and apprehended him around 3 am while hiding in the park in bushes. "On arrival, they encountered a suspect and he fled the scene on foot. He was observed entering St Stephen's Green park and pursued by gardaรญ on foot. The man (20s) was apprehended by gardaรญ in the park and arrested," according to a garda spokesperson. Due to the darkness, an initial search failed to locate the stolen jewelry. Authorities secured the park […]
Trump Calls on Putin to “STOP” After Deadly Attack on Kyiv
Russia launched a massive overnight strike against Kyiv, killing at least 12 people in what officials described as the largest attack on the Ukrainian capital this year. The assault prompted an unusual public rebuke from Donald Trump, who directly addressed the Russian president with "Vladimir, STOP!" The attack, which Trump called "not necessary" and "very bad timing" as he pursues peace negotiations, injured 90 people, damaged buildings, and ignited fires across the city. Rescue workers were still recovering bodies from the rubble more than 12 hours later. This strike comes at a critical juncture in Russia's war in Ukraine, which began with Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022. Both Kyiv and Moscow are attempting to demonstrate to Trump that they are making progress toward his goal of a swift peace agreement. "I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. […]
Related
Saudi Football Giants Battle For Asian Glory In Historic Jeddah Tournament
Jeddah becomes the epicenter of Asian football as it hosts the groundbreaking AFC Champions League Elite Finals 2025, featuring eight top clubs competing across eight days to determine the continental champion. This season marks a significant overhaul of Asia's premier club competition, with all matches from the quarter-finals onwards staged in one centralized location. Saudi Arabia hosts this mini-tournament featuring three Roshn Saudi League (RSL) sidesโAl Hilal, Al Nassr, and Al Ahliโalongside Qatar's Al from the West Zone. The East Zone is represented by Japan's Kawasaki Frontale and Yokohama F. Marinos, South Korea's Gwangju FC, and Thailand's Buriram United. Competition begins Friday, with significant attention on whether RSL clubs can maintain Saudi Arabia's recent continental success, following Al Hilal's championships in 2019 and 2021. RSL champions Al Hilal open the quarter-finals against surprise contender Gwangju FC at Alinma Stadium. Despite […]
Yellow Derby Thriller Ends 4-3 As Al Taawoun Survives Late Comeback
The Qassim Derby delivered an unforgettable spectacle as Al Taawoun emerged victorious with a 4-3 win over Al Raed at King Abdullah Sports City on Thursday night, though not without significant drama. Despite falling behind to Amir Sayound's opener midway through the first half, the designated hosts launched a remarkable comeback. Goals from Andrei Girotto (assisted by Faycal Fajr), Roger Martinez, and an Abdullah Al Yousif own goal gave Al Taawoun a commanding lead before halftime. When Waleed Al Ahmad extended their advantage to 4-1 just four minutes into the second half, Mohammed Al Abdali's team appeared to be cruising toward victory and local bragging rights. However, the contest was far from decided. Al Raed, currently sitting at the bottom of the Roshn Saudi League table, demonstrated admirable resilience. Goals from Ayoub Qasmi and Oumar Gonzalez brought them back into […]
Twin Football Stars Face Off In Saudi League Showdown
A special bond typically exists between footballing brothers - a mixture of love, loyalty, and competitive rivalry, especially when they're twins. This dynamic plays out in the Roshn Saudi League, which has featured multiple brothers and twins sharing the pitch. At Al Qadsiah, Qassem Lajami isn't the only player with a twin competing elsewhere in the league. On Wednesday night in Dammam, Mohammed Abu Al Shamat will face brother Saleh when Al Qadsiah meets Eastern Province rivals Al Khaleej in Matchweek 29. This marks their second confrontation this season, following their Matchweek 12 meeting in late November at the same Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium. In that encounter, Mohammed claimed bragging rights with a 1-0 victory, though their direct confrontation was brief - the twins shared the pitch for just six minutes before Mohammed was substituted in the 81st minute […]
NEOM Sports Club Storms Into Top Saudi League With Dominant Promotion
NEOM Sports Club has secured promotion to next season's Roshn Saudi League following a decisive 3-0 victory against Al Arabi Club in Tabuk on Tuesday night. The ambitious First Division League leaders clinched their place in the 2025-26 RSL with Ahmad Abdu scoring twice and on-loan Olympique Lyon forward Said Benrahma adding the third goal. Celebrating their first-ever promotion to Saudi Arabia's top football tier, NEOM SC's social media channels described the achievement as an "exceptional season." In an official statement, club chairman Meshari Al Mutairi said: "We proudly congratulate all NEOM supporters on this well-deserved promotion. Today marks the beginning of a new phase of hard work as we prepare for the upcoming Roshn Saudi League season, with all its challenges and responsibilities. We remain committed to continuous development and to working together as one team toward greater achievements." […]
Saudi Coaches Prove Critics Wrong As Local Talent Transforms Struggling Teams
Mohammed Al Abdali seized his moment after guiding Al Taawoun to the AFC Champions League Two quarter-finals via a dramatic penalty shootout win against Qatar's Al Wakrah. The caretaker manager, who took over in January following Rodolfo Arruabarrena's dismissal, used his post-game platform to advocate for Saudi coaches who have historically struggled to secure opportunities in the Roshn Saudi League (RSL). "The Saudi people are more than capable to achieve in all fields," Al Abdali declared passionately. "I saw a lot of media outlets showing no confidence in Saudi coaches over the past few days and their abilities." He continued: "My message... is to have some confidence in Saudi coaches. I'm not talking about myself personally. Let's say Mohammed Al Abdali is a bad coach, but not all Saudi coaches are bad, so you have to place some confidence in […]
Fabinho Hails Champions Mentality As Al Ittihad Edge Closer To Saudi League Crown
Al Ittihad midfielder Fabinho praised his team's "champion" spirit after they moved closer to securing the Roshn Saudi League title following a crucial night of action on Monday. The league leaders received a significant boost before their match with Al Ettifaq when second-placed Al Hilal dropped points in a 2-2 draw against Al Shabab in the Riyadh Derby. Al Hilal had recovered from Daniel Podence's early strike to lead 2-1 through goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Salem Al Dawsari, but Mohammed Al Shwirekh's 68th-minute header earned Al Shabab a valuable point. Al Ittihad then took the field knowing victory would extend their lead to six points with just five matches remaining. Despite conceding in the fifth minute when Vitinho's deflected shot beat goalkeeper Mohammed Al Mahasnah, Laurent Blanc's side responded quickly. Six minutes later, Houssem Aouar's corner found Karim Benzema […]
Be the first to leave a comment