Augusta, GA … Ireland’s Shane Lowry insists he’ll have to give himself a slap in the face should he return to his rented house tonight and start thinking of wearing a Masters green jacket.
Lowry’s decision to spend his birthday last weekend at Augusta was rewarded with a rousing share of second place at four under par on the opening day of the 80th Masters.
The Irishman belied his experience of just two prior competitive rounds of the Georgia course to revel in the bright but very windy conditions to shoot a superb 68.
Lowry eventually walked from just after 7pm local time and more than five hours after his first tee introduction: “Quite please. Shane Lowry now driving.”
And the 29-year old could be rightfully proud of his effort dealing with everything Augusta National threw at the Irishman.
Shane Lowry on route to a four under par 68 and a share of second. (Photo – www.Masters.com)
The Offlay golfer is now not only striving to become the first Irishman to win the Masters but in doing so Lowry would become the first Augusta champion to sport a beard.
Indeed, you may have to delve back to the 1860s when Old Tom Morris ruled the fairways of the Open Championship to find the last player to win a Major sporting a beard.
But then Lowry still has to cut a lot more strokes off Augusta National before any thoughts of walking up the 72n hole late on Sunday.
For the time being, Lowry was just thrilled, and after easily missing the cut last week in Houston, to regain the form that won his last August’s WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.
But when the subject of his victory in Akron, Ohio was mentioned Lowry was determined in stating he’s moved well on from resting on his WGC winning laurels.
“Every golfer dreams of winning a major,” Lowry said. “I mean, it’s hard not to. I’m sure I’m going to be sitting back tonight thinking at some stage about wearing a green jacket. I’m only human. I’m going to do that.
“But I’ve just got to kind of give myself a slap in the face and get myself back into reality and try to get down to business and keep hitting good shots and see where that leaves me at the end of the week.”
Lowry had raced early to four under par with four birdies in succession from his second hole and moved to five under par when he birdied the par five eighth hole.
He dropped a shot at the par three 12th and as it passed 6pm local time he kept himself in second place at four under par with rock-solid pars from the 13th through to the last.
However, it was defending Masters champ Jordan Spieth quickly signalling his intentions he’s not about relinquish his Augusta title in shooting a six under par 66.
Less than a week ago, Spieth remarked he had no answer to a downturn in his game posting a second round 73 in Houston that also involved having to deal with a ‘trial by video’ incident early on day two at the Shell Houston Open.
But a pair of 70s into the tank of the now World No. 2 over the weekend re-energised the Texan who needed just 25 putts in what is only his ninth loop of Augusta National
In fact, Speith in his past five rounds of the course is a remarkable 24-under par.
Korean-born Kiwi Danny Lee posted a four under par 68 to be tied with Lowry and on the 20th year anniversary of the best Masters finish by a New Zealander, and that was Frank Nobilo finishing fourth in 1986.
Five players, including the England trio of Paul Casey, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose along with current Irish Open champ Soren Kjeldsen plus Spain’s Sergio Garcia are already well positioned on the board each shooting 69.
Four-time Major winning Rory McIlroy looked all set to make that six sharing fourth but found a greenside bunker with his second at the last in taking a bogey and still a respectable 69.
