RORY McILROY missed the cut with a woeful display as Royal Troon left some of the world’s best bamboozled.
But Irishman Shane Lowry shot an impressive 69 to lead The Open by two shots — despite a spat with a cameraman.
Now Lowry tees off today’s third round as favourite to follow his 2019 triumph at Portrush.
McIlroy could only add a four-over 75 to his disastrous opening 78 to finish on 11 over.
Lowry, 37, said: “Anything that’s thrown at me, I feel like I’m ready to take it on the chin and move on. If I give myself a chance on Sunday I know I can do it and that’s as good a position to be in as any.”
Bryson DeChambeau, who won the US Open last month, joined a long list of stars missing the weekend.
Tiger Woods, Tony Finau, Cam Smith and Tommy Fleetwood were among other high-profile casualties at blustery Troon.
Lowry, who finished with a round of 69 to lead on seven under, did well to stay cool after threatening to blow a fuse in an astonishing incident which cost him a double-bogey six on the 11th.
After a wayward drive off the tee, he plunged his second into a gorse bush and gave it up as lost.
Yet after taking a drop and playing a provisional ball, a fan found the original, meaning he had to go back, accept a penalty and ultimately took a six.
If that was not bad enough, it came after an outburst at a photographer. Lowry was caught on camera saying: “I could just see you with the f***ing camera up! Just get out of the way. Just get back. F*** sake.”
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But the 2019 Open champion calmed down and insisted he was the one to blame for his flare-up with the snapper.
He admitted: “I got a bit distracted as I was over the shot and lost a bit of my train of thought
“You’re so afraid of going right there that I just snagged the club and went left.
“There was a cameraman walking up and I asked him to stop but he stayed there. As it was over, he put his camera up. I saw it out of the corner of my eye and should have stood off it. It was my own fault.
“I hit a great provisional and the referee asked if I wanted to find my first one. I said no and assumed that was OK but we got down there and somebody had found it.
“But I felt like through that whole 20-minute process I was very calm.
“And, to be honest, I was happy enough leaving there with a six. It wasn’t a disaster and I was still leading the tournament.”
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McIlroy needed a fast start but he dropped six shots in his first six holes — including a disastrous eight at the par-five fourth.
His day was summed up when, after missing the 16th green, he threw his club into the air in frustration and hit himself on the chin.
McIlroy, whose ten-year wait for another Major goes on, said: “After the eight on the fourth hole I resigned myself to the fact I wouldn’t be here for the weekend.
“Over the course of the two days the conditions got the better of me. I have to keep reminding myself that I am close to another Major.”
Ryder Cup hero Fleetwood, who shot a 75 to end on nine over, admitted: “Conditions are tough but it’s your job to figure it out. I couldn’t do that.”
