The foursome trail just behind three shots adrift Austria’s Bernd Weisberger and Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez who took full advantage of earlier ideal scoring conditions to each post seven under par 65s.
Paul McGinley shoots a 68 on day one of the Johnnie Walker Championship. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimeages.com)
McGinley posted five birdies in cold and increasing windier conditions on the PGA Centenary course where the Irishman will lead Europe into battle in 13 months time.
“It’s nice to be asked about my golf for a change rather than the Ryder Cup,” said McGinley.
“I liked the way the course was set up as it suited my eye, but now I am going to have to get feedback from other players about what they think.
“I probably won’t start talking to them until April when the team should start to be taking shape and because there won’t have been any growth during the winter – so the jury’s out until then.
“But if I get the feedback that they want the course softer with heavy rough like it’s been in the past that’s what we will aim for . That is my perogative as the home Ryder Cup captain.”
Lowry, who is playing alongside McGinley for the first two rounds, quickly raced to four under par after just four holes courtesy of a second hole eagle, where he sank a 24-footer, and then birdies at three and four.
However with the wind picking up the World No. 82 stalled to complete his closing 14 holes in level par.
“It was decent start and it could have been a lot better I had a lot of chances and one birdie putt horseshoed out at the 16th,” he said.
“But it was certainly tough out there, cold and windy, but I drove the ball really well and I am happy with that start.”
Hoey is returning to competition for a first time since capturing the recent Russian Open and capped his round with four birdies in a seven hole stretch from his fourth hole.
“I’ve have had a couple of weeks off but even though I have got that win behind me I have still got a lot to play for,” said the World No. 188.
“I want to qualify for the big tournaments at the end of the season and get back into the top-100 so I get into the USPGA next year. And this round was a good opener.”
And Ballyclare-born Maybin didn’t drop a shot in his best start in 19 events this year.
