Shane Lowry reckons he will would be happy playing the new-look “Burma Road” course every week after his four under 68 on the opening day of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
After dropping shots over the closing two holes of his outward nine, Lowry capped his day with three birdies in succession from the 10th.
It left Lowry trailing just two shots adrift of Sweden’s Johan Carlsson, who dropped a shot at the last in a round of a six-under par 66.
Five players, including the very in-form Francesco Molinari along with Belgium’s Thomas Pieters, Scotland’s Scott Jamieson and Thai Kiradeck Aphibarnrat share second place at five-under.
Lowry, who now finds himself as the World No. 76, has enjoyed a pretty decent record at Wentworth finishing T4th in 2o11 and T6th in 2o15.
And his demeanour, and on a course further “tweaked” by the combined design talents of Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn, was no different after his round.
Shane Lowry shoots a 4 under day 68 day one BMW PGA. … Image Getty.
“I said to my caddy walking off the last green, if we could play here every week, I would be happy enough”, said Lowry.
“Yeah, I love it around here. Great tournament. BMW do a great job, and The European Tour, and the golf course, the changes they made are great, and the condition the golf course is in is the best I’ve ever seen it.
“It had been a nice start to birdie five and six but then back-to-back bogeys was not what you want though they were not weren’t necessarily destructive shots
“But then I rolled in three nice birdies from the tenth and, if anything, I feel good with my putter.
“There are a lot of chances out there when you hit it good off the tee. And like I say around here you need to par the tough holes and try to make your score everywhere else.
“Of course, there’s a long way to go but I definitely got off to a good start and got myself right in the tournament. You can’t win the tournament on Thursday but you certainly can lose it and I’ve been doing that quite a bit this year.”
NOTE … PAUL DUNNE …. HE IS LEVEL THROUGH 12HOLES
Padraig Harrington, and in his return to competition since a shoulder operation, posted a one-over par 71 and a similar score to Darren Clarke.
Harrington had been one-under through 14 holes but bogeyed 15 and then doubled 17 before closing with a birdie.
Damien McGrane was also looking to finish under par but bogeyed 17 and then double the last in a score of 74.
