Shane Lowry benefits from power of positive thinking

After a disappointing first round on Thursday, Shane Lowry bounced back into BMW PGA Championship contention yesterday with a five-under-par 67 at Wentworth that leaves him the best of the Irish heading into the weekend.

Lowry, last year’s runner-up in the European Tour’s flagship tournament, will begin today’s third round on three under par after 36 holes, seven shots behind halfway leader Francesco Molinari. The world number 55 gave credit for his improved scoring to the confidence-boosting power of positive thinking as he sat alone in his hotel on Thursday night and pored over his opening-round, two-over-par 74.

“I sat down and honestly thought through every shot and I probably hit five bad shots yesterday. You know, I hit two good shots at the first, I could take you through the lot of it, hit a lovely shot at the second, poor tee shot at the third but I got on with it and it just felt like I got absolutely nothing out of it.