Shane Lowry moves past cameraman's distraction to lead Open - ESPN

TROON, Scotland — Shane Lowry was the early clubhouse leader Friday following his second round at the 152nd Open Championship, but only after he survived a debacle involving a photographer and a spectator on the 11th hole at Royal Troon Golf Club.

Lowry, who started the round one stroke behind Daniel Brown, had a two-stroke lead over the relatively unknown qualifier after posting a 2-under 69 to move to 7 under after 36 holes. Brown shot a 1-over 72.

Lowry had a two-stroke lead over Brown when he stepped to the 11th hole, which is known as «The Railway» and is considered the most difficult on the course because of the railroad running down the right side of the fairway and thick gorse protecting the left.

After safely hitting his tee shot 301 yards down the right side, Lowry was left with 176 yards to the pin. As Lowry prepared to hit his approach shot, he noticed a photographer standing several yards in front of him.

«There was a cameraman there and he was walking up, and I asked him to stop or move back, and he just kind of stayed there,» Lowry said.

The photographer raised his camera, and the movement distracted Lowry, he said, causing him to smother his shot out of the high fescue. His ball shot across the fairway and landed in gorse on the left.

Lowry turned his frustration to the photographer, telling him, «Just get outta the way. Just get back there. F---'s sake.»

«I did the hard part,» Lowry said. «I hit my drive where you could find it, which is obviously a hard thing to do on that hole. I had a nice lie in the rough. I got a little bit distracted on the right just as I was over the shot, and I kind of lost a bit of train of thought. You're so afraid of going right there that I just snagged the club and went