The Open: Shane Lowry’s scorching scorching putter results in profession first

Shane Lowry appeared unbeatable at Royal Troon on Thursday on the Open Championship.

The 2019 Open Champion carded a bogey-free, 5-under 66 in brutal situations. He trails Daniel Brown, who fired off a bogey-free 6-under 65, by one shot as he sits in solo second.

Solely 17 gamers fired under-par scores in the course of the first spherical, a testomony to the 25-mile-per-hour winds that blew throughout Royal Troon. Only a few gamers saved a clear scorecard, too.

However Lowry’s preparation for this event is why he’s in direction of the highest of the leaderboard after day one. He performed many observe rounds early and took benefit of his later tee time.

“I’m very blissful. I went on the market—fortunate I watched lots of golf this morning and noticed that the golf course was not enjoying simple,” Lowry mentioned.

“I attempted to exit, play my recreation, hit some good photographs, and gap a couple of putts. I did that, and I’m fairly blissful.”

The Irishman had 25 putts after the primary spherical, tied for first among the many discipline. He made three birdies in six holes on the entrance 9 to show in 33 photographs, a 3-under par rating.

Lowry made one other par-breaker on the eleventh, and his closing birdie got here on the 18th.

He defined {that a} journey to Royal Troon two weeks in the past helped him regulate to those greens.

“Generally I battle once I come again from enjoying a season on the PGA Tour with the velocity of the greens,” Lowry mentioned.

“I bought right here, and I performed a few observe rounds right here, and I used to be actually pleased with how my velocity was… I wasn’t struggling to get the ball to the outlet as a result of typically I might be like that. My velocity management was excellent, and I noticed my strains nice. I really feel like hyperlinks greens whenever you begin to see your strains, the outlet feels fairly large, so it felt like that immediately, and lengthy could it proceed.”

This 66 marks his lowest first-round rating in a serious championship. In 2019, at Royal Portrush, Lowry shot a 67 that first day. Whereas he was pleased with the rating, the 37-year-old stayed sensible.

“It’s solely at some point. We’ve bought three extra days,” Lowry mentioned.

“I saved telling myself that on the market as a result of, for some motive, I felt like the group was getting very excited. They have been fairly excitable, and it felt extra just like the weekend. I saved telling myself there’s much more to do, and there’s a couple of days left, so I stayed in my lane and hit some good photographs, and I used to be fairly pleased with how I dealt with myself.”

Picture by Pedro Salado/Getty Photos

Lowry mentioned he would give something to win this event once more however doesn’t wish to look forward. This primary-round rating will imply nothing if he doesn’t play nicely within the subsequent three days.

So, it seems the Irishman will maintain himself grounded, as 54 holes stay Usually, Lowry likes to have an early spherical on Thursday and a late one on Friday, however he has the alternative this week. It’s a fast turnaround that can enable him to get after it.

The situations shall be comparable at The Open for Friday’s spherical, too.

“If they’re, it’s not going to be simple, and pars are going to be good. That’s type of the sport plan,” Lowry mentioned.

Lowry tees off at 4:47 a.m. ET for the second spherical with Cameron Smith and Matt Fitzpatrick. He appears to construct off this 66 and vie for his second Claret Jug.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. For extra golf protection, comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You may also comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.