Shane Lowry continues riding the crest of a wave after posting a 66 on day one of the rich WGC – HSBC Champions event in Shenzhen.
Lowry shares third place on six under par with Augusta National winner’s Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson along with Ryder Cup winning hero, Peter Hanson who captured last week’s BMW Masters.
And after moving to eight under par with two holes to play but then dropping shots at 17 and 18, Lowry says a new inner confidence stopped him from walking off the course angry with himself.
“So much so that I remember three years ago when I first played this event that after 11 holes of the first round the leader board read Woods, Lowry, Mickelson and I couldn’t get over that.
“I was nearly going to get my phone out and take a photo.
“But the change now is that when I bogeyed the last two holes, like I did today, I just put it behind me and didn’t worry too much about it.”
Lowry shot a similar 66 that year but ended the tournament in a share of 28thwhereas three years on, the reigning Portugal Masters champion seems to be is seeing the hole as big as a bucket.
“If I knew what I was doing right in winning the Portugal Masters and playing so well last week in Shanghai and now here at the HSBC Champions, I’d bottle it,” joked Lowry.
“It’s just happened and I’m just going with the flow and I’m really riding the crest of a wave at the moment.
“It’s one of those things that when you go through a bad phase you don’t think about it as much when you go through a good phase.”
Lowry like a lot of players competing in this week’s $US7m guaranteed money and no-cut event is wearing a red-white-and-blue ribbon as a mark of respect by those affected in the America’s by Hurricane Sandy.
And while he’s put himself quickly in position for the Euro 921,375 first prize cheque that would lift his winnings to over Euro 1.5m for three weeks work, the 25-year old is conscious of those affected by the hurricane.
Hanson revealed he has been in discussion with Tour CEO, George O’Grady who seems keen for the Swede to contest next week’s Barclays Singapore Open, and when Rory McIlroy returns to competition.
O’Grady assured Hanson he would ‘keep a spot open’ for last week’s winner in Shanghai and knowing that with a second success in China he would go to Singapore ahead of the World No.1 on the Race to Dubai.
Of course, O’Grady like most golf observers wants to see the Race to Dubai go right down to the final round of the closing event of the season.
“I said to George that I wanted to wait until Sunday just to see if I am in contention here in Shenzhen or not,” said Hanson.
“But then the way Rory has been playing it’s going to be very hard to catch him because I also spoke to (Justin) Rose he and I both agree will need to do something crazy to go past him.
“So if I were to finish top-three that could sway my decision but then I’ve been on the road for three weeks now and while this is a great start shooting a 66 it’s also tough being away from the family back in Orlando.”
Graeme McDowell and the only other Irish player competing in China posted a first round 71.
