Lowry on Ryder Cup lifeline after missing Czech Masters cut

Shane Lowry will likely require a wildcard if he is to make Ryder Cup selection after missing the cut at the D+D Real Czech Masters.

The 2019 Open champion made a fine start at Albatross Golf Resort in Prague, four under par through his opening five holes, but three bogeys on the back nine saw him card a second successive 71, 11 shots adrift of Sweden's Alexander Bjork.

Having missed the FedEx Cup playoffs, thus taking him out of the running for one of the three automatic slots on the World points list, Lowry still had a faint chance of taking the last of the three automatic spots on the European points list, but this missed cut has scuppered those chances.

Three players will qualify via the European points list, with Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm already assured of two spots. Three will also make the team via the World points list with Viktor Hovland having booked this spot.

Captain Luke Donald has given himself a total of six picks with Lowry - 10th in European standings and eighth in world standings - thought a probable inclusion.

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In Prague, the top 65 made it through to the weekend’s action.

Padraig Harrington, bidding to become the oldest Ryder Cup player next month, will also require a pick from Donald, but his second round 68 means he sits on five-under par, eight shots off the clubhouse leader.

Two shots better off than Harrington is John Murphy, who sits on seven-under after a second round 70.

Bjork is the man to catch in Prague, and gave his chances of making Europe's team for next month's contest in Rome an enormous boost as he added a 66 to his opening 65 for a halfway total of 13 under par.

Matt Wallace gave Donald another possible Ryder Cup selection headache as he moved to within two shots of the