Graeme McDowell tip sees Shane Lowry burn up Sawgrass

Patience is a virtue but Shane Lowry confessed it was a putting tip from Graeme McDowell as much as his resolve that helped him open with a sensational 65 in The Players at TPC Sawgrass.

Twelve months after carding rounds of 73 and 74 on his debut to miss the halfway cut by three strokes, Lowry looked to be heading for another average round when he turned for home with one birdie and one bogey on his card.

Then, like magic, putts that had shaved the hole all season began to drop and a birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie start to the back nine was polished off with further birdies at the 16th and 18th in a homeward run of seven under 29.