Shane Lowry two strokes off the pace at Phoenix Open

The Offaly man started with six birdies and a bogey in his first nine holes.

Shane Lowry, of Ireland, hits out of a bunker on the 16th hole during the first round of the Phoenix Open (Ross D Franklin, AP)

Ireland’s Shane Lowry is two shots off the lead held by American Sahith Theegala after a weather-hit opening day at the Phoenix Open.

Theegala hit seven birdies and a bogey in a six-under-par 65 and leads by one from compatriot Andrew Novak after the first day at Scottsdale.