Brilliant stuff from Shane Lowry.
Shane Lowry signed off on a -4 67 to come in as the clubhouse leader after a solid first round at the 148th British Open at Royal Portrush.
The 67 is the Offaly man’s lowest ever opening round at a major and when you consider that he has missed the cut at his last four appearances at the Open championship, it’s fair shooting and will be a very pleasing round of golf for him.
With only one blot on his copybook, Lowry came in with a very impressive card that included five birdies at the Antrim course.
One of the early risers, the 32-year-old was paired up with Phil Mickelson and South African Branden Grace for his first round. But while Grace and Mickelson in particular failed to fire, Lowry was making very few mistakes out there.
His first birdie arrived on the Par 3 third where he holed out well and that sent him on his way. His next gained shot came on the short par four fifth hole, where his 300 + yard drive left him with a 20 footer for eagle.
Lowry, with his delightful short game was never going to leave that behind him. The eagle didn’t drop but he knocked it in for birdie to shoot up the leaderboard alongside the impressive Irish amateur James Sugrue and Darren Clarke.
Blow it up, ref!#TheOpen pic.twitter.com/jNVzizC8g7
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 18, 2019
A lovely sight for Irish eyes. But while Clarke and Sugrue slipped back, Lowry was unfaltering. His only bogey would come on the Par 4 11th hole but any fears of that knocking him back were relayed at the next, when he knocked in the birdie to take the outright lead.
PURE OFFALY FIRE 🔥
A birdie at 12 moves Shane Lowry into the lead on his own and he reacts with a steely fistpump#InTheZone#TheOpenpic.twitter.com/reRmjfcOuO
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 18, 2019
He kept it solid down the home stretch, closing out with a trademark up and down to become the clubhouse leader on -4.
Come on Offaly. At 14/1, he could be worth a punt.
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