A number of mental errors Shane Lowry said proved costly in a second round of 76 which saw the Irishman drop from a share of second place and into a tie for ninth on a second straight testing day of the Masters.

“It was tough,” said Lowry.

“I didn’t do myself any favours with the start I got off to, which was just purely a mental error on the first and second and all of a sudden I have two bogeys on the card.

Shane Lowry says a few mental errors cost him dearly on route to a 76 on day two of the Masters.

“I felt like I fought really hard today and I was really disappointed to bogey the last because if I had been standing here one under I would have been really happy. I am still in a decent spot for the weekend depending on what the leaders do.

“You have to be mentally strong and tough and I managed to keep my head on quite well today and play some golf.  So I am a little disappointed with 76 but the two round total is good. It’s up to me to do what I can tomorrow and give myself half a chance for Sunday.”

Speaking about his double bogey on the 12th, the 29-year-old added: “I just tugged the tee shot on 12 and ended up in a bush. I dropped it in the bush and just got it out and then got up and down for five.

“It was actually a decent five in the end – there is no way I wanted to go back to that tee! There is an 80 out there today without doing much wrong. You have to fight and grind for every par and that is what I did today.

“So it was tough. I didn’t do myself any favours with the start I got off to which was just purely a mental error on the first and second and all of a sudden I have two bogeys on the card.

“I felt like I fought really hard today and I was really disappointed to bogey the last because if I had been standing here one under I would have been really happy.

“But then I am still in a decent spot for the weekend depending on what the leaders do.”