He’s different, that’s for sure.
Shane Lowry muscled his way into the business end of affairs in this 80th edition of the US Masters, after an opening round 68 that left him two strokes behind first round leader Jordan Spieth, and wondered how he would keep his feet on the ground.
“I’m sure I’m going to be sitting back thinking at some stage about wearing a green jacket. I’m only human, I’m going to do that . . . . but I’ve just got to kind of give myself a slap in the face and get myself back into reality, try to get down to business and keep hitting good shots and see where that leaves me. I’m looking forward to the challenge,” said the 29-year-old Offaly man.
More good shots
For sure, Lowry - competing in his second Masters tournament - hit many more good shots than poor ones in a first round where the wind gusted upwards of 30 miles an hour. Of course, he had an advantage in such conditions. “I knew it was going to be tough. It was going to be tricky, but it’s not like I haven’t played in the wind before.”
And those memories of the old amateur days playing in the West of Ireland at Rosses Point, or, more recently, last year’s Irish Open at Royal County Down were put to good use. “I stroked the ball really solid, which is what you need to do in the wind. I’ve always said I like tough golf! This is tough golf and it’s going to be for the next three days.”
Lowry - who had a run of four successive birdies from the second hole - turned in 31 strokes, and felt his scorecard could have been even better. He failed to birdie either of the Par 5s on the homeward run, the 13th and the 15th, and had birdie chances on the 11th, 16th, 17th and 18th slip by the hole.
Glance at leaderboards
For most of his first round, Lowry cast a glance, time and time again, at the giant leaderboards dotted around the course. His name featured prominently on every one of them, with only Jordan Spieth on top by the time he signed his card.
In winning the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone last August, Lowry had shown shot-making and fortitude to win. “Winning a tournament like that, especially beating the players I did down the stretch, it does a lot for me. Obviously, it gives me confidence going forward. But hat’s behind me, and I’ll hopefully use that Sunday afternoon when I’m hopefully going on the back nine against some of the bigger players with a chance of winning hopefully.”
A tilt at a Major is yet another step up the ladder. “I suppose winning a Major obviously, it’s a big deal and it’s something that you want to do as a golfer. I couldn’t tell you what age I was when I started going, ‘I really want to win a Major’, and obviously I do. There’s not too many people who wouldn’t want to win one. And it’s nice seeing my name up there.
“But it’s three rounds to go. It’s a long way to go yet, especially around this place. You’re only ever a bad bounce away from a bit of a disaster, so you’ve just got to keep your head on. You’ve just got to keep trying to hit good shots and hit towards your targets and hopefully make a few putts, and that’s all I’m going to try and do,” said Lowry.
Plugged lie
A plugged lie in a greenside bunker led to a closing bogey for Rory McIlroy, as he opened with a two-under-par 70, that had him in tied-ninth and four shots adrift of Spieth. “I’m still within touching distance, pretty pleased with that,” said McIlroy, adding: “I feel there’s enough good golf in me to that I can reel him in over the next 54 holes.”
McIlroy - whose highlight of the round came at the Par 5 13th where he hit a six-iron approach to 18 feet to set up an eagle - said he was looking forward to the challenge of chasing down Spieth. “It’s just about staying patient. Especially the way the conditions are, you have to stay patient and bide your time and pick up your birdies when you can and know that par’s going to be a pretty good score and the golf course is only going to get firmer and tougher as the week goes on with this wind. So, it’s going to be a good test, it’s going to be a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to it.”
