Friendship the fuel as Shane Lowry takes two shot lead at Arnold Palmer

MIAMI – A relaxed mind was the key for Shane Lowry, as he fired a five-under 67 to open up a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando on March 7.

The 37-year-old Irishman reeled off six birdies and one bogey to head into the weekend at the Bay Hill Club Lodge on eight-under 136 after 36 holes.

Lowry has played the first two rounds this week alongside close friend Rory McIlroy – a fact that he believes has assisted his strong start to the tournament.

The pair could be seen laughing and chatting throughout the round, and Lowry admitted the close proximity of his Ryder Cup teammate had helped take his mind off the task in hand.

“If I’m playing with somebody I like and get on well with, I’ll have conversations in the walk between shots,” he said.

“It’s a long day out there, so you need to occupy your mind somehow. I felt like we had a good time with doing our job at the same time.

“You’re out there with one of the best golfers in the world, with big crowds, great golf course, lovely weather, what’s not to like? It’s easy to get up for something like that.”

Lowry might have been forced to share the lead had it not been for a late collapse by Wyndham Clark.

The American first-round leader looked poised to head into the weekend at the top of the leaderboard but stumbled with a double-bogey six on the 15th after hitting his tee shot out of bounds.

A birdie on 16th clawed back one of those shots, but a further bogey on the 17th meant the 2023 US Open winner had to settle for a 71, leaving him on six under overall.

“The tough