Maynooth: Peter Uihlein and Robert Rock shared the lead after the second round of the Irish Open on Friday, while Rory McIlroy missed the cut in his final tournament before the British Open. Uihlein shot a 4-under-par 68 to move to 9-under 135 with England's Rock, who posted a 6-under 66 at the Carton House course on the outskirts of Dublin.
It was a disappointing day for the home fans, however, as McIlroy shot a 72 to remain at 2 over, missing the cut by two shots. Fellow major winners Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke also didn't make it to the weekend in a dismal showing by the Irish and Northern Irish contingent. "I hit quite a few good shots out there, but there are a few bad ones in there and it's those bad ones that are costing me, and I wasn't sharp enough around the greens," McIlroy said.
He said he won't play another event until the British Open, which begins July 18 at Muirfield. "I am still confident in my ability to hit the golf ball and hit good shots, but then confidence comes from hitting good shots and seeing the ball go in the hole, and shooting good rounds and posting good results," McIlroy said. "I guess in that way the results are not great, but from being on the golf course and seeing some good shots today I am definitely more positive now than this time yesterday."
Uihlein honed his game in often windy conditions on the Karsten Creek course designed and built for Oklahoma State University. "It's something I got used to at Oklahoma State as it can be pretty windy there," he said. "I spent 3½ years in Oklahoma where sometimes we would play in a tornado. In the wind, your game doesn't have to be that perfect. "I seem to struggle when it's calm and sunny but when it's windy you just play golf. I enjoy it."
Uihlein celebrated his 21st birthday when he captured the 2010 U.S. Amateur, and he turned pro in 2012. Last month, the American earned his first European Tour win at the Madeira Islands Open. Rock broke through for his first European Tour win at the 2011 Italian Open, and secured his biggest victory last year in defeating Tiger Woods by two shots at the Abu Dhabi Championship.
Rock, looking for a first win since Abu Dhabi, highlighted his second round with an eagle on the par-5 4th hole. Jose Maria Olazabal, the 1990 Irish Open winner, carded 69 to sit in a five-way tie for third, two shots back.
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