McIlroy one off the lead, Lowry misses the cut

Rory McIlroy is just one off the lead at the US Open after carding a round of 69 at Brookline, Massachusetts.

Shane Lowry misses the cut whilst fellow Irishman Séamus Power carded a 71 to leave the Waterford native at +1 and tied for 31st in a very condensed field.

McIlroy had been in danger of falling out of contention when he covered the front nine in 36, the world number three needing three attempts to hack on to the green from thick rough on the third, before holing from 23 feet to salvage a double bogey.

But after dropping a shot on the 10th, McIlroy picked up shots on the 12th, 14th and 17th to remain firmly in the hunt for his fifth major title and first since the 2014 US PGA.

The Hollywood golfer is just one behind both Collin Morikawa and Joel Dahmen who both closed their second rounds at -5.

However, Shane Lowry missed the cut after a difficult back 9 resulted in the Offaly native carding a second round of 72.

Lowry had a rocky time, his putting deserting him, especially around the turn. Bogeys on 12, 15, 16 and then the 2nd left him at five over par.

Crucial birdies at the short par-4 5th and the par-5 8th hole, albeit with a bogey tossed in at the treacherous par-3 6th saw him register a second successive 72, currently at +4 for the tournament.

Contrast to Lowry, Power comfortably made the cut. The 35-year-old showed remarkable nerve all day, despite bogeying 16 and 18, he came back to birdie 17 in between for an even par outward nine of 35.

Power has now made the cut three times out of three at majors this year and with such few strokes between competitors will have an outside chance of pulling off an upset this weekend.

Open champion Morikawa missed a birdie putt at the last which missed from just three feet for