Lowry relieved the start’s at an end

SHANE LOWRY was back home among his own people in Clara, Co Offaly, last night disappointed at not having done better in his first professional tournament but in a strange way quite relieved that the occasion was behind him.

He shot a one over par 73 in yesterday’s second round of the European Open at the London Club and while it was an improvement of five strokes on Thursday’s 78, it still left him well outside the cut-off mark. A seven over par total wasn’t what he had hoped for but, quite rightly, he was looking on the bright side and I believe we will see a different Shane Lowry when he tees it up at the Wales Open next week.

“I went out trying to shoot 65 but unless I played out of my skin, that was never going to happen,” he acknowledged. “I’ll be okay. I’ll go get ready for next week. There has been a lot of media attention but that will quickly settle down and I’m looking forward to being just another player and being able to get on with it. I’m glad to have this week over although I actually played good golf over the last 24, 25 holes.