Scottsdale, AZ …
Shane Lowry found himself headed for a random drugs test straight after the frustration of three-putting the last in a round of a two under par 69 on day one of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Lowry was well-placed and sharing sixth place standing over his first putt from 25-feet on the 18th at TPC Scottsdale.
And the Irishman was far from a happy chappy to drop to a clubhouse share of 14th place and four shots behind red-hot Hideki Matsuyama and with the defending Japanese golfer posting a six under par 65 on the par 71 layout.
Shane Lowry with a similar look he had on his face today at the 18th as that during last year’s US Open. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
In fact, Matsuyama and Lowry had shared the opening round lead with Rickie Fowler twelve months earlier also with 65s.
Lowry kick-started his second event of the New Year with a bogey but bounced straight back with birdies at two and three before adding a third in holing an 11-footer at the fifth.
He then drained a 28-footer at 10 ahead of seven pars, including the infamous ‘Coliseum’ 16th hole, before the mishap at the last.
“I played well all day and to bogey the last is very disappointing,” he said.
“But then standing here now I am not really happy with my ending and even though I didn’t drive it that well overall it was a far better showing than last week.
“I got off to a bogey start but was really pleased to get myself to three under and then for that to happen there on 18 was really annoying as you can probably gather.”
Padraig Harrington, and the only other Irishman competing in the $US 6.7m, declared himself fit to play despite electing not to contest Wednesday’s Pro-Am and in a move to give a trap nerve in his left shoulder a day’s rest from proper competition.
Harrington, who was out in the afternoon half of the draw, incurred the injury during the course of last October’s Rio Olympics.
