Lowry keeps calm in wild conditions

TROON, Scotland -- Shane Lowry was a surprising model of calm amid all the calamity in the British Open on Friday.

Lowry was not immune from the endless punishment Royal Troon dished out on a day when Tiger Woods missed another cut, along with nine of the top 20 players in the world -- including Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg and Bryson DeChambeau.

He was close to losing his cool with a photographer who distracted him, a shot into the gorse bush, a beautiful provisional shot to the 11th green that didn't count when his lost ball became found and a double bogey that wiped out his two-shot lead.

Lowry steadied himself with two birdies on the last three holes for a 2-under 69, leaving him in a familiar position as he chases that silver claret jug he first won at Royal Portrush five years ago.