Former Irish Open winner, Shane Lowry has slumped to his equal worst lowest score on Tour in carding an 81 on the first day of the Wales Open.

Lowry, who commenced his round from the 10th at Celtic Manor, was six over par after just holes in taking a double at par four 12th hole and then at the par three, 13th.

The Esker Hills golfer then dropped four shots over the remainder of his round.

Shane Lowry struggles in carding an 81 during the first round of Handa Wales Open. (Photo - Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

It is Lowry’s worst European Tour round since a similar 81 on the opening day of the 2011 Hassan 11 Trophy in Agadir, Morocco.

The 137th World Ranked Lowry is already 13 shots behind England’s in-form Lee Slattery who carded a four under par 68 and just three days after qualifying for his first-ever U.S. Open.

But then the Irishman wasn’t the only player struggle in the £1.8m tournament.

Defending champion Alex Noren posted an 80 after finsihing joint leading qualifier on Monday at Walton Heath.

It was not a good day either for Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie or Jose Maria Olazabal.

Montgomerie, back on the course where he led Europe to Ryder Cup victory two years ago, needed three birdies in his last six holes for a 74 and Lawrie, second in this year’s cup race following his runner-up finish at the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday, could only match that.

“I would not say I played awful – it’s not easy out there,” said Lawrie.

“I struggled a wee bit and putted extremely poorly, but it could have been a to worse.”

Ryder Cup captain, Olazabal posted a 76, running up a triple bogey six on the third.