Could there be something in the fact Akron, OH and Oakmont, PA?
In fact, the distance between Akron, and where Shane Lowry captured last year’s WGC – Bridgestone Invitational, is just a 100 miles from Oakmont where Lowry is well in contention in the 2016 U.S. Open.
Lowry is just two shots from clubhouse leader Dustin Johnson who added a 69 to his opening 67 to move to four under par in a U.S. Open plagued by weather delays.
On the plus side for Lowry is that he is yet to tee up in his second round but then he was delighted to finally get his opening round finished.
And the Irishman is clearly relishing the challenge that lays ahead.
Ireland’s Shane Lowry loving the challenge that Oakmont continues to present. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
“I am going to go out there to enjoy the challenge of it,” he said.
“I like it when it’s like this. You can be in whatever frame of mind you want. If you don’t hit good shots, you’re not going to do any good.
“It’s about when you get out of position trying not to make bogey, trying not to make double bogeys, and don’t make bigger numbers.”
Lowry is contesting on his fourth U.S. Open but after finishing 9th a year ago at Chambers Bay and then adding his name to the list of Bridgestone Invitational winners, the 29-year old is clearly in a good place.
“There is a fine line between too aggressive and not being aggressive enough,” he added. “You need to really approach the golf course with a bit of care.
“If you are too tentative, you’re leaving yourself too long into greens and 40 footers are not much craic on these greens.
“When you get a short iron or a mid iron in your hand you really need to be inside 20 feet because you are going to be trying to two-putt from 40 feet most of the day.
“Four days around here you are going to make bogeys so you just have to try and grab on to every par you can and go to the next.
“Even if you hit a good shot and miss the putt, it’s still a par and you go to the next. Every par you put that in your pocket and go to the next tee, happy enough.
“The good thing is, there’s no bluffers will win this week. It will take a good golfer to win here.”
