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

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

The 2019 Open Champion carded a bogey-free, 5-under 66 in brutal circumstances. 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 throughout 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 a whole lot of golf this morning and noticed that the golf course was not enjoying straightforward,” Lowry stated.

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

The Irishman had 25 putts after the primary spherical, tied for first among the many area. He made three birdies in six holes on the entrance 9 to show in 33 pictures, 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 wrestle after I come again from enjoying a season on the PGA Tour with the velocity of the greens,” Lowry stated.

“I acquired right here, and I performed a few observe rounds right here, and I used to be actually proud of how my velocity was… I wasn’t struggling to get the ball to the opening as a result of generally I could be like that. My velocity management was superb, and I noticed my traces nice. I really feel like hyperlinks greens while you begin to see your traces, the opening feels fairly large, so it felt like that immediately, and lengthy might it proceed.”

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

“It’s solely in the future. We’ve acquired three extra days,” Lowry stated.

“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 just a few days left, so I stayed in my lane and hit some good pictures, and I used to be fairly proud of how I dealt with myself.”

Picture by Pedro Salado/Getty Photos

Lowry stated he would give something to win this event once more however doesn’t need to look forward. This primary-round rating will imply nothing if he doesn’t play effectively 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 other this week. It’s a fast turnaround that can permit him to get after it.

The circumstances might be comparable at The Open for Friday’s spherical, too.

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

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

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. 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.