Lowry back in the groove

EUROPEAN TOUR rookie Shane Lowry had every reason to be pleased yesterday, putting himself in superb position to make a first pay cheque after a two under par 69 on the opening day of the French Open in Versailles.

Lowry and Ballyclare’s Gareth Maybin head the 10-man Irish contingent competing in hot and humid conditions on the National Club course.

The duo trail seven strokes adrift of German sensation Martin Kaymer, who equalled the 2018 Ryder Cup candidate layout with a sizzling nine under par 62. A day earlier, Kaymer had his Pro-Am side to victory but with a portion of his right shoe cut away to relieve three pressure of blisters on his little toe.

Five players – Sweden’s Peter Hanson, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, Australia’s Scott Strange, 2006 French Open champion John Bickerton of England and Argentina’s Rafa Echenique, who holed out at the last for an albatross in Munich last week – are next best after rounds of 65.

Lowry, who began from the 10th tee, got off to an indifferent start in his fourth event as a pro to be quickly two over par after three holes before the first of five birdies in his round at his fifth hole .

But Lowry, who is yet to make a cut since turning pro last month, was again in trouble after taking a double bogey at his ninth when he found water guarding the green in ‘blocking’ his 7-iron approach shot.

However, Lowry played his inward nine in five under par helped by his eagle at the par four fifth-hole or the 14th of his round.

“It was great to get my first eagle on the Tour with the ball just taking one bounce and disappearing into the hole,” he said.

“So to finish two under after being three over par after nine is nice and to get off to a decent start.

“At the other tournaments I’ve played, I’ve started poorly and have gone out thinking I have got to shoot in the mid-60s just to make the cut.

“But it feels good now to have got off to a decent start, so all I have got to is just hang in there and I will be playing the weekend.”

While Lowry was feeling pleased, Harrington was still searching for answers.

He had spent the days leading up to only his second appearance in the French event working on sorting out four drivers.

Next fortnight’s defending British Open champ went into the round with the same driver as World Number Two, Phil Mickelson – an 8.5 degree Callaway FT9 “Tour Authentic” driver.

But while Harrington found some joy with the longest club in his bag, it was the shortest club that caused concern. Harrington three-putted on three occasions in his round including the first and third holes where he recorded bogeys.

Harrington then birdied his eighth hole but dropped back to two over par with a 11th hole bogey before a birdie at the next followed by a three-putt bogey at 16 ahead of a birdie at the last.

“It’s certainly more pleasing to make a birdie at the last but three three-putts hurt badly at my first and third greens, so it took me a long time to get into my rhythm after that,” he said.

“I was just struggling with the pace of the greens and I want to go out and practice my putting but I am not sure if I will be doing myself any good. I clearly haven’t putted anywhere near the last couple of months, as I would have wanted to, and it’s more to do with being focussed on other places and not being settled enough “I don’t feel there is much wrong with my putting stroke or anything like that but I just feel that I need to be a bit more focused on it, but that’s what happens when you are tinkering away with things.

“It’s very hard to play good golf when you doing that and then when a few three putts early on, and then all of a sudden it’s hard to play confident golf after that. But I am quite pleased with the physical side of things today, but not the mental side of it.”

Maybin, also competing for a first time in the event, again had his sleeves pulled up in now customary manner, to record three birdies and just one bogey to leave he and Lowry lying just outside the top-30.