Paris 2024: Rory McIlroy six shots off lead at Le Golf National, Shane Lowry 'playing for pride'

Defending Olympic champion Xander Schauffele shares top spot at the halfway point at Le Golf National, with Rory McIlroy trailing the current Open and PGA champion by six shots.

However, McIlroy's team-mate Shane Lowry insisted he was now only "playing for pride" after recording a second successive round of 71.

Schauffele shot a five-under-par 66 in his second round to reach 11 under and draw level with overnight leader Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who carded a 68.

Overnight storm showers kept the course soft and helped produce a flurry of birdies, with Britain's Tommy Fleetwood among those to shine, also reaching 11 under with a round of 64.

Spain's Jon Rahm is two shots behind the leaders in fourth, with Belgium's Thomas Detry, South Korea's Tom Kim and CT Pan of Chinese Taipei tied for fifth.

Speaking after his round, in-form Schauffele said: "If you do hit a bad shot it's easier to accept it because you know you're playing really good golf and you can make it up somewhere else."

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The American found the rough along the 13th fairway and discovered that his ball was lying on an anthill and sought advice from tournament officials before hacking his way on towards a bogey.

"I've had burrowing animal issues but not like an ant pile that you can't really move," he said.

McIlroy's 69 saw him finish the day on five under, alongside Canada's Corey Conners and Jason Day of Australia.

The Holywood world number three registered an eagle and a birdie in his first five holes, but