Shane Lowry called a penalty on himself during impressive US Open round
Sunday 19 June 2016 02:10, UK
Shane Lowry was pleased to keep himself in contention for the US Open despite calling a penalty on himself on the 16th at Oakmont.
The Irishman is yet to win a major despite some fine rounds of golf in the year's biggest events, including a 68 that saw him just two shots off the lead after the first round of the Masters earlier this year.
However he moved into contention for a maiden major with a level-par round of 70 to follow his two-under par opening round and he sits just a couple of shots behind halfway leader Dustin Johnson.
However it could have been better for last year's Bridgestone Invitational winner who revealed he called a penalty while sizing up his putt.
"I hit a nice 6 iron into the right-hand side of the green and had a straightforward two putt from 30 feet up the hill," Lowry said.
"I addressed the ball, and the ball moved back. I had to penalise myself. It's very frustrating in a tournament like that.
"I actually holed a great eight-footer for a bogey on that hole. I think, if I would have missed that, it would have been difficult to get back from there.
"That kind of kept me going, and from there on, I just played good golf. In fact, I played good golf all day, didn't hit it in trouble very much. Hit plenty of fairways, plenty of greens, and that's what you need to do out here.
"I'm very happy with the way I hit the ball. My putter feels good in my hands as well. I'm happy with the way my game is going into this afternoon."
Another man in contention for a first major title in Lee Westwood, playing in his 73rd major he would set a record for the most majors played before claiming a maiden crown.
The Englishman got himself into the outright lead at five-under par before a terrible run around the turn saw him drop six shots.
But a couple of birdies in the final three holes got himself in contention just three shots behind Johnson and he was pleased with his battling qualities.
"I didn't hit the ball very well. I struggled on the range this morning to find my swing and really couldn't find it all day on the golf course until the last hole," Westwood said.
"I feel like I got a little feeling there, maybe I'll find it for the third round. It was a professional round of 72.
"The mistakes I made weren't killers, weren't disastrous. They were only bogeys, and then I finished strongly with two birdies on the last three holes.
"I didn't panic out there. Just kept trying to grind it out. Missed it in the right spots if I did miss it. Just picked up the odd shot if I could. That's about all you can really say about that round."
Defending champion Jordan Spieth remains hopeful of a third major, but admits he will need to go low over the weekend to get himself in the hunt.
"I said that Monday without knowing what the weather would bring, if the course was firm. I still like even par," said Spieth who at four-over par is eight shots off the lead.
"I think we're capable of shooting four under on the weekend, so that's our goal. That's what we're going to try and do these next two rounds.
"The course is firming up a little bit. It's still very playable if you're in the fairways, which means under par can be shot, but at the same time, I'm sticking to our number of even par. If we get there and we don't win, then I'm not going to hang my head whatsoever."
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