A Rory McIlroy up-and-down from a greenside bunker at the 18th hole meant Shane Lowry was buying dinner for the World No. 2.
The duo played a 18-hole practice round on Tuesday with McIlroy competing in the event that starts Thursday for a third occasion after missing the cut in 2010 and finishing T19th on debut in 2009.
Lowry is making his debut and playing on a sponsor’s invitation that McIlroy and Horizon Sports managed to attract for Lowry.
However it was McIlroy celebrating and throwing both arms in the air in delight after holing a 10-foot birdie putt. Lowry had moments earlier missed holing a chip-in from the front of the green for an eventual par.
“Well that’s my buying McDonalds,” Lowry joked.
Accompanying McIlroy was former USA Ryder Cup captain, Dave Stockton and now working with McIlroy.
However Lowry arrived in America’s fourth largest city on the weekend without his golf clubs and with Lowry taking advantage by spending Monday with Cleveland.
Forunately Lowry’s clubs arrived later on Monday allowing the reigning Portugal Masters champion to play the course for the very first time.
“It’s not the first time my clubs have gone astray,” said Lowry.
“Strangely, it always seems to happen when I go via London, so I will stop having to fly through London.
“But Monday wasn’t a total waste as I managed to spend some quality time testing various equipment with Cleveland, so it was a good day spent.”
Lowry is competing in this $6.2m event on a sponsor’s invitation and he’s revealed he also has been afforded a similar invitation into next week’s Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.
Shane Lowry hitting off the 13th hole during a Tuesday practice round with Rory McIlroy. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Dave Stockton watches Rory McIlroy tee off the 15th hole during a practice round Tuesday on the Redstone course. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
