McIlroy Trails by Five as Lowry Closes Gap at Philadelphia Cricket Club

Keith Mitchell maintains a one-shot lead at the Truist Championship after a rain-hit second round. Shane Lowry is closing in, while Rory McIlroy trails by five shots.

Keith Mitchell maintained a one-stroke lead after a rain-affected second round at the PGA Tour Truist Championship, posting a 3-under 67 for a 36-hole total of 12-under 128. Shane Lowry is closing in, while Rory McIlroy trails by five strokes.

The 33-year-old American golfer, who shot a career-low 61 on Thursday, has won only one PGA title, which was at the 2019 Honda Classic. Recently, he finished as runner-up at Puntacana.

Mitchell reflected on the difference between this course and others, saying, “A lot more up and downs. The greens were tougher to hit because we had a lot more club, a little bit more wind and the rain. It definitely played tougher. Didn't hit as many greens but I thought my short game was pretty good. I've got to keep my head down and keep moving.”

Shane Lowry, the 2019 Open champion from Ireland, closed the gap to one stroke with a 65, putting him just behind Keith Mitchell. Austrian Sepp Straka sits third at 130, while defending champion Rory McIlroy is part of a group in fourth place at 133 after shooting a 67.

Lowry reflected on his round, saying, “It was pretty good. Weather has turned a bit nasty but I thought early on it was actually OK, it was like not the worst, wasn't that much wind. I'm very happy but it's pretty miserable out there for the rest of the guys.”

Heavy afternoon rain hit the course, prompting workers to dry off several greens between groups to keep play going. The Truist Championship was held at Philadelphia Cricket Club this year instead of its usual venue, Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina, as Quail Hollow is hosting the 107th PGA Championship the following week.

Keith Mitchell navigated challenges with poise, responding to a bogey at the second hole with birdies on the next three holes. Later, he countered a bogey at 11 with birdies at 12 and 14.

Shane Lowry, who finished second to Rory McIlroy at Pebble Beach in February and had a strong run at the Masters, believes he's made a breakthrough in his game. Lowry said, “There's a consistency to my whole game that has been very good. I think I'm just maturing as a golfer, taking the rough with the smooth, the good days taking them well and the bad days working through them.”

Rory McIlroy shot a solid round with six birdies and three bogeys, showcasing his resilience by responding to bogeys with birdies on the next hole twice. This performance put him in a tie for fourth place with a group of talented golfers, including South Korean Kim Si-woo and Americans Justin Thomas, Akshay Bhatia, Collin Morikawa, and Patrick Cantlay.

As the second-ranked golfer, McIlroy is gearing up for next week's PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, a course where he's had significant success with four past wins. Currently, he's five shots behind leader Keith Mitchell after posting a 7-under par score following his second round. McIlroy is playing his first solo event since claiming victory at the Masters, completing his career Grand Slam.

“I've putted nicely, which has been good to see,” McIlroy said. “I've seen my lines pretty well the first two days.

Leaderboard after Round 2 @TruistChamp 👇

1. Keith Mitchell (-12)
2. Shane Lowry (-11)
3. Sepp Straka (-10)
T4. Justin Thomas (-7)
T4. Rory McIlroy
T4. Collin Morikawa
T4. Akshay Bhatia
T4. Si Woo Kim
T4. Patrick Cantlay pic.twitter.com/k27eDtVSx4

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 9, 2025

“My focus is good. I made some uncharacteristic mistakes over the first to days compared to the way I've played the most part of this year.

“If I can just iron those out - it would be nice to go out there and not have to scramble so much - if I can clean the cards up over the weekend I'll be in a good spot headed into Quail Hollow.”

Building Momentum

Rory McIlroy is feeling positive about his preparation for the PGA Championship, but acknowledges he still has work to do. The five-time major champion has had a strong season, winning at Pebble Beach and the Players, in addition to the Masters.