Irish Open: Rory McIlroy misses cut at Royal County Down

Rory McIlroy had to battle against more tough conditions at Royal County Down on Friday

Rory McIlroy was unable to undo the damage of his opening 80 as a 71 saw him miss the cut at the Irish Open.

The world number one, 26, battled in tough Royal County Down conditions but a double bogey on 15 ended his hopes.

McIlroy's charity is hosting the event but that could not prevent his third straight Irish Open missed cut.

British trio Richie Ramsay, Chris Wood and Tyrrell Hatton are among a six-strong leading group on three under with Padraig Harrington a shot behind.

Englishman Hatton, 23, matched the course record of 66 set by Jimmy Bruen at the 1939 Irish Open to move to the head of affairs along with his compatriot Wood plus Scotland's Ramsay, Austria's Bernd Wiesberger, Dane Soren Kjeldsen and Spain's Rafa Cabrera-Bello.

After failing to record a birdie on Thursday, McIlroy, being willed on by a huge gallery, parred his opening six holes on Friday before rolling in a 25-footer for a two at the short seventh.

An excellent up and down at the 12th got him to seven over, two shots off the projected cut mark of five over, but his hopes ended when he took six at the 15th.

"I left myself too much to do from yesterday," said the world number one, who also missed the cut at last week's BMW PGA Championship.

"I played a solid round of golf today but it just wasn't enough.

"The support out here was phenomenal but this is going to be the third year in a row that they won't see me playing at the weekend and that is disappointing, to say the least."

His playing partner Rickie Fowler is well placed on level par after a second 71 but the other member of the three-ball, Martin Kaymer, missed the cut by one shot after a 69 left him on six over.

Padraig Harrington led by five at one stage on Friday before dropping back

Overnight joint-leader Harrington, 43, moved five clear of the field at one stage but then suffered four bogeys and a double bogey in his last eight holes to drop back to two under alongside Luke Donald.

"I'm pleased to be in contention but I would have preferred to be seven or eight under par and in a good position to move away from the field," said 2007 Irish Open winner Harrington.

Wiesberger's playing partner Andy Sullivan produced the shot of the day as he holed out with a two iron from 259 to record an albatross at the par-five first.

Harrington's compatriot Shane Lowry had to putt with a wedge for his final 15 holes after breaking his putter in frustration but still managed to sign for a creditable three-over-par 74.

Lowry survived on four over while Northern Irish major winners Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke both squeezed into the final two rounds on five over.

Sergio Garcia missed the cut on 12 over after a 79 while Victor Dubuisson crashed out on 16 over after an 84 which included two eights and a seven.