Shane Lowry bounced back from an initial double-bogey on his first two holes at Valhalla, ultimately carding a respectable two-under-par 69 in the inaugural round of the US PGA Championship. Despite his troublesome start, including a bogey caused by a mishap in a greenside bunker, the golfing star from Offaly remained within proximity of the lead.
Lowry’s first hole left him with another bogey due to a poor drive, even though he made up some ground with a birdie on the short par 4 fourth hole. However, a third bogey followed on the fifth as a result of another wayward fairway shot. He then redeemed himself on the par 5 seventh by having a birdie from a 10-feet wedge shot, ending the outward half with a one-over 36.
Lowry’s performance picked up during the back nine, where he birdied the 11th after sinking a lengthy 20-foot putt in the par 3. His second birdie putt from a distance of 22 feet on the following hole took him under par for the day. After maintaining par for five consecutive holes, Lowry concluded with panache, scoring a birdie on the par 5 18th, even despite narrowly missing the green in two and having to recover.
Regrettably, Pádraig Harrington, the 2008 champion, didn’t fare as well on this low-scoring day, carding a dismal six-over-par 77. This lacklustre first round performance leaves him with a much-needed extraordinary second round to make the 36-hole cut. Harrington’s round was marked by five bogeys and a damaging double bogey on the par 5 7th hole, concluding the day on a disappointing note tied at the 148th position out of a 156-strong field.
The leader of the tournament, Xander Schauffele, matched the current record, ending his first round on an exceptional nine-under 62, whereas Rory McIlroy made a promising beginning with a five-under-par 66. World number one, Scottie Scheffler ignited the crowd’s enthusiasm as he recorded an eagle at the commencement of his Valhalla campaign on Thursday, ending the day five shots away from the lead with a four-under-par 67.
The champion of The Masters scored 167 yards from the central part of the fairway, the ball bouncing once on the green before hopping into the hole. The winner reported the plan was to aim directly at the pin, with the belief that even if the strike was slightly off, the minimum outcome would be landing on the pin. He further expressed contentment at the ball going slightly beyond the pin and finally getting into the hole.
Schauffele is currently leading by three shots against his fellow countrymen, Tony Finau, Mark Hubbard, and Sahith Theegala. McIlroy and Robert MacIntyre of Scotland are among a group of five tied at five under. Last year’s victor, Brooks Koepka, stands one shot behind at four under, in a tie with Scheffler.