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Rory McIlroy was left nine shots off the pace at the US Open following an ugly finish to his second round at Chambers Bay.

McIlroy was only six behind as he lay one over par with two holes left but then suffered a four-putt double bogey on 17 and further bogey at the last.

His four-over total after a second 72 was one shot inside the cut mark.

Graeme McDowell exited on eight over after a second 74 with Darren Clarke crashing out on 17 over after an 80.

McIlroy had played some fine golf mid-round and after an eagle at the short par-four 12th seemed set to finish the day within striking distance going into the weekend.

But he hit his tee shot at the par-three 17th some 60 feet beyond the hole and rammed his first putt 30 feet long before missing a five footer for bogey.

Another dropped shot at the brutally tough par-four 18th was no disgrace, but it hardly helped the cause of the four-time major winner, who might have felt it was not his day when one of the on-course commentators trod on his ball earlier in the round.

McIlroy was one of a host of players to again struggle of bumpy greens which Henrik Stenson likened to "putting on broccoli" and Justin Rose compared to "outdoor bingo".

2010 champion McDowell's struggles this season continued as he played his opening nine in two over to slide beyond the projected cut mark and a double bogey at the 514-yard par-four ended any lingering hopes he had of surviving into the weekend.

2011 Open champion Clarke, who started at the 10th, carded a triple-bogey at his opening hole and a double-bogey at the 18th as he signed for an 80.

Offaly man Shane Lowry performed much better than the Northern Irish trio as a steady 70 left him on one under and only four behind leaders Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed.

"I was going along nicely and missed a great chance on 12," Lowry said after a round containing three birdies, one bogey and a double bogey.

"Then I felt I got unlucky on 14 and just pulled my second shot. Got an awful lie in the bunker and ended up making double from there.

"I hit a great shot into 15, great shot into 16 (without making birdie) and made a great putt for par for 17 from 10 feet.

"That was massive in regards to the whole round and then I went on to birdie the last, which was nice."

Lowry missed the cut at Congressional in 2011 and Pinehurst last year, as well as on his Masters debut in April - but finished ninth in the Open at Hoylake last summer.

"The good thing for me is I'm feeling a bit more comfortable on the greens," added Lowry.

"Not 100 per cent, but I'm liking what I'm doing and liking the way I'm hitting my putts."