Amgen Irish Open - Day two digest

Joakim Lagergren threatened a second K Club course record, Shane Lowry holed out for eagle and Rory McIlroy almost went one better in a thrilling second round of the 2025 Amgen Irish Open.

Here is everything you need to know from Friday's play.

Lagergren thrilled but no double record

Leader Joakim Lagergren has history with The K Club, setting the course record of 63 on the Palmer South Course at last year's Irish Challenge, and was stunned he had not made it a double on Friday. The Swede's 10-under-par 62 was enough for a one-stroke advantage over Adrien Saddier, with the rest of the field a further four shots back, but was two shots outside Darren Clarke's remarkable record 60 at the 1999 European Open. "I shot the course record on the other course, minus-nine, so I thought I did it on this course now," said Lagergren. "Obviously minus-12 is the course record - way off! But yeah, Ireland is treating me well."

Rory threatens big bird

World Number Two Rory McIlroy surged into contention with a six-under-par 66 and almost gave the Irish crowd a memory for the ages at the par-five 18th. The Northern Irishman's second shot from 173 yards pitched within a foot of a stunning albatross, spinning back to eight feet and leaving him to settle for a two-putt par. "I was hitting a three-quarter eight-iron, I couldn't believe how far it came back!" he said. "It looked like I nearly flew it into the hole. I'm really pleased with the day's work, obviously the two boys are a little bit ahead but I feel like I'm close enough, if I do have a good weekend, to chase them down."

Lowry holes out

McIlroy was not the only home favourite peppering the flags - Shane Lowry went within a foot of an eagle at the 11th before producing this beauty at the 13th...

Home from home

Daniel Hillier is about as far from his native New Zealand as it is possible to get this week - not that you would have known it from his impressive 66. Hillier fired six birdies and an eagle at the 18th, against just two bogeys, to share third place with McIlroy, Thorbjørn Olesen and Alfredo Garcia-Heredia. Having finished in a share of 12th here two years ago, Hillier said: "Definitely a ball striker's course. There's a premium for landing it in the fairway. Thankfully I've been driving it halfway decent this week.Very similar to most of the courses we play back home actually in New Zealand. Very tight par style. Maybe that's helped a little as well."

Padraig signs off in style

The 2007 champion Padraig Harrington will not be around for the weekend after rounds of 74 and 75 left him five over. The popular Irishman was warmly applauded all the way round his 30th successive appearance in his national Open - playing partner Saddier hailed the support as "really awesome" - and Harrington was always going to hole this final birdie putt to give the fans something to celebrate.