He had been awake more than 12 hours earlier when Shane Lowry walked into the scorer’s hut at 7.15pm local time delighted to have shot a two over par 74 on a testing first day of the Valero Texas Open.
It left the Carton House pro seven shots behind American Charley Hoffman who has shed his unruly-looking golden locks for a standard short-back-and-sides haircut and a one stroke lead over Australia’s Aaron Baddeley.
Phil Mickelson, despite breaking the shaft of his 8-iron at the 12th hole, is sharing third place at two under par and a year after a back injury forced him out midway through the third round.
After dropping three shots in succession from his seventh hole Lowry steadied to play his inward nine in one over par on the TPC San Antonio course.
Shane Lowry cards a two over par 74 on day one of the 2015 Valero Texas Open. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
Lowry had been meant to tee off at 1.30pm local time however the morning half of the draw had taken so long in the conditions PGA Tour officials put back the starting times of all those out in the afternoon by 30 minutes.
While it was sunny, the wind speed was around 28 mph and gusting at times to over 40mph so much so greens staff were spraying water on many of the greens to assist players in seeing their golf balls hold the putting surfaces rather than run off.
Lowry was rugged up under a shirt and top but pleased to have toughed out the conditions in his second showing in the event.
“It was a tough day out there and it was a shock to the system when I was lying in my bed this morning here at the J.W. Marriott and seeing the scores they were shooting this morning,” he said.
“But fortunately the wind did drop a little this afternoon as I played a decent final four holes and managed to shoot a 74 which wasn’t all that bad given the conditions.
“My round could have gone anywhere after dropping three shots in a round there from the seventh as it was so tricky out there, so I am happy enough.
“Overall it was a long day in the office as I had been awake at 7am and now it’s 7.15pm and I am only finishing my round.
“My goal going out there was that if I did drop a shot then I wanted to make a birdie quickly after that but also keep making pars.
“So I will now go and join Dermot (Byrne – caddy) for some dinner and get to bed early ahead of what will hopefully be an easier day tomorrow.”
