The Open live updates from day 2 at Royal Portrush
Both McIlroy and Lowry finished day one on one-under-par, leaving them three shots off the the leaders.
Some 280,000 spectators from across the world are set to descend on the Co Antrim venue to see the very best golfers in the world battle it out for the famous Claret Jug.
At 6.35am, day two began with Stewart Cink (US), Marc Leishman (Aus), and Matteo Manassero (Ita) kicking off proceedings.
McIlroy is the first Irish golfer out on the course on Friday. The career Grand Slam holder will get his second round at Royal Portrush underway at 10:09am alongside Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood.
Tom McKibbin and Padraig Harrington, who kicked things off on Thursday morning along with Nicolai Hojgaard, begin their second round at 11:26am. Darren Clarke will be out around his home course at 12:53pm with Lucas Herbert and David Riley.
Lowry will begin his round at 3.10pm, with the weather expected to get worse as the day goes on.
Yesterday, for day one of the tournament, the crowds included actor James Nesbitt, US ambassador to the UK Warren Stephens, First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly.
The crowds, ten deep in places, endured heavy rain showers in the early afternoon before the sun finally broke through not long before McIlroy himself appeared at the first fairway.
You could have heard a pin drop as people stretched every sinew and used all possible vantage points to get a glimpse of the Holywood man taking his first shot of the tournament.
09:03 Jane Corscadden
Tourism NI chief executive John McGrillen said: "Overall, we reckon this is going to be worth about £213 million to the Northern Ireland economy. There are two elements to that. The first element of that is the direct spend. We expect people to spend about £63 million in Northern Ireland as a result of attending this event.
"And there's about £150 million of value in terms of international promotion. Tourism Ireland will be sticking ads on TV in the midst of all of the promotion of this. Over the course of the event it just magnifies the audience that we would have."
Read the full interview here.
09:00 Jane Corscadden
South Africa's Christiaan Bezuidenhout plays from the 1st fairway during day two of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush this morning. South Africa's Christiaan Bezuidenhout plays from the 1st fairway during day two of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush (Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire.)
08:58 Jane Corscadden
Yes, re-admission will be permitted. Ticket holders will only be permitted to re-enter The Open on the same day as long as they present the following on re-entry i) a ticket valid for that day's play, and ii) an official, untampered, re-entry wristband that must be collected from the exit gate when initially leaving The Open. Spectators will not be able to enter The Open with a ticket that has already been used that day without an accompanying official and untampered re-entry wristband.
08:27 Jane Corscadden
After heavy rain was experienced on the course yesterday during a thunderstorm warning, the weather is gearing up to be calmer today.
The Met Office said: "Overcast changing to light showers by lunchtime." A high of 20C can be expected.
Saturday will have a high of 20C, with sunny intervals changing to cloudy by late afternoon.
For the final day of play on Sunday, we can expect light rain changing to sunny intervals in the afternoon, and a high of 21C.
08:22 KEY EVENT
For the full list of tee times for today, click here.
08:20 Jane Corscadden
No, you cannot park beside the course at Royal Portrush, with park and ride facilities operating to the site instead.
Dedicated buses will operate from park and ride sites to transport spectators arriving by car to the course. Car parking passes will be available to purchase on arrival at a cost of £22 per day per vehicle from Wednesday 16th to Sudnay, July 20th.
A £5 discount will be applied to car parking passes purchased in advance (up to the day before). To purchase car parking at The Open please click here.
08:18 Jane Corscadden
Gates at Royal Portrush opened at 6am yesterday, and opened at the same time today. Gates open at 7am on Saturday and Sunday.
On Thursday and Friday, play began at around 6.35am.
08:17 Jane Corscadden
We will bring you the latest highlights from day two of The 153rd Open Championship.
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