Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy enters the weekend eight shots behind the co-leaders at the Irish Open.

He is 5-under- par 139 after posting a 2-under 70 in Friday’s second round at The K Club in Straffan, County Kildare.

England’s Jordan Smith (65 on Friday) and India’s Shubhankar Sharma (66) share the lead at 13-under par.

Englishman Ross Fisher (66) is at 12-under, followed by Germany’s Hurly Long (66) at 11-under.

McIlroy, who has been dealing with a recent back injury, offset an eagle at the par-5 16th hole with a double-bogey at the par-4 17th.

“I thought I played a little better today from tee to green,” McIlroy said. “I just didn’t hole anything. I hit good putts. I just was misreading them. Some putts lacked a little speed. Some putts I sort of hit through the break. So a little bit of speed control issues rather than anything technical.”

McIlroy also recorded birdies at Nos. 5, 12 and 18 and a bogey at No. 8.

–Field Level Media