Jon Rahm Charges Forward While Shane Lowry Falls Short in Madrid
Jon Rahm made a strong comeback at the Open de España, securing a spot for the weekend after a challenging first round. Meanwhile, his Ryder Cup teammate, Shane Lowry, faced disappointment as he missed the cut during the second day of competition. The event, held at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, saw both players struggle on Thursday, following their recent victory as part of Luke Donald‘s team in New York.
On Friday, Rahm showcased his skills, finishing the day with a round of 66 to reach five-under for the tournament. In contrast, Lowry’s three-under 68 brought him to a total of one-under, just one shot shy of the projected level-par cut line. The Irishman had a promising start, moving to four under after 14 holes, but a costly dropped shot at the par-four 16th hole proved detrimental.
Despite a par at 17, Lowry needed a strong finish on the 18th. He attempted a 15-foot putt to secure a weekend spot, but the ball rolled agonisingly past the hole, sealing his fate. Frustration was evident as Lowry knelt down in disappointment, reflecting the emotional toll of his near miss.
Competitive Landscape in Madrid
While Lowry struggled, Rahm’s performance positioned him five shots behind the leader, Marco Penge. The English golfer, who is a two-time winner on the DP World Tour this year, finished his round with back-to-back birdies, leading the tournament at nine-under after a solid round of 67.
Penge’s impressive performance keeps him ahead of Denmark’s Jeff Winther, who delivered the joint-best round of the day with a 64. Close behind are Joel Girrbach from Switzerland, who shot 65, and Aaron Cockerill from Canada, finishing with a 67.
Another English golfer, Daniel Brown, is tied for seventh place at seven-under following a second-round 66. The group also includes Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren, who matched Winther’s stellar performance with a 64.
Spanish icon Sergio Garcia, the 2002 tournament winner, shot a one-under 70 to comfortably make the cut, finishing at one-under overall.
As the competition intensifies, the third round of the Open de España will commence on Saturday at 12:30 PM, with live coverage available on Sky Sports Golf. Fans can also stream the DP World Tour, PGA Tour, and LPGA Tour through various platforms, ensuring golf enthusiasts do not miss a moment of the action.
