Torrey Pines, CA …
New U.S. resident Shane Lowry could not have been happier commencing a New Year with a three-under par 69 on day one of the Farmers Insurance Open.
Lowry bounced back from being one-over par through 10 holes to birdie four of his last on the North Course at Torrey Pines.
The new Mirasol Resort resident at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida enjoyed the leading Irish honours on the opening day of the $US 6.9m event just momentarily as in-form Seamus Power also signed for a 69.
Power was two-over par through just three holes and played his remaining 15 holes in five-under including birdies over two of his closing four holes.
It left the Irish duo trailing four shots behind American Tony Finau who carded a seven-under par 65 to lead by a shot from the duo of Ted Potter Jnr and Ryan Palmer.
Lowry had a scoreback in his back pocket for a first time since he and Graeme McDowell teamed to finish a gallant runner-up in last month’s QBE Shoot-out in Naples, Florida.
Then earlier this month, Lowry returned to Florida and this time accompanied by his wife, Wendy and young daughter, Irish to rent premises within the Mirasol Resort and very close to next month’s Honda Classic host venue.
“It’s been great settling into Mirasol and the great thing is Wendy really loves the house and surrounds,” he said.
“I’ve played a few games on the course and also been up playing Trump National, and the great thing is I get-up every morning and just put on a t-shirt and shorts so it’s lovely weather.
“And feeling good about settling-in over here was reflected in my scoring today and while I bogeyed eight and then bogeyed 10 to go one-over but then I birdied 11 and 12 and that got me going.
“Overall, I played good and considering I played the four par-5s in level pars, so to shoot three-under was very good as you should be at least two-under on the 5s.
“Having played the QBE Shootout alongside G-Mac very late in the my year meant that I didn’t have that much time off and with that event being just a few weeks ago, I didn’t feel like I didn’t have any rust in my game.
“So, I would have snapped your hand off if you had of offered me a 69 on the first tee this morning as I will take a 69 any time on these two golf courses.
“I also love just competing here at Torrey Pines and hey, what is not to love about the venue, the course and the views?”
Power is coming off an 11th place finish in last week’s Career Builder Challenge and his second best result on the PGA Tour.
And after some driving issues over the weekend at the La Quinta Resort, the 30-year old West Waterford golfer still struggled with the longest club in his bag and managing to hit only six of 14 fairways.
“I came here earlier this week very pleased with my effort last week at the Career Builder given I did not hit it all that great over the final two days,” he said.
“So, it was much the same today but I managed to hand in there and made some great saves.
“In the bigger picture last week was a great confidence boost for me and I felt that today out on the course and very happy with myself in fighting back from two-over early on and be up there among the top-15,
“I will work again on my driver this afternoon and see how it goes over the next few days.”
Joining Lowry in making his competing for a first occasion in 2018 was Padraig Harrington who ended day one sharing 84th place on level par with Tiger Woods.
Harrington managed four birdies and also had four bogeys and like Power, and his 2016 Ireland Olympic Games team-mate, hit only six fairways in regulation
