Both Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell enjoyed impressive opening efforts that should set them up for good weeks at the inaugural Workday Charity Open in the appropriate township of Dublin, Ohio.
Lowry arrived in the ‘Buckeye State’ determined to turn around the disappointment of missing the cut in the opening two events following the return to competition post the three-month Coronavirus lockdown.
The Offaly golfer made a first cut in last fortnight’s Travelers Championship and now after a three-under par 69, capped by a 17th hole eagle ‘3’, Lowry headed to the Muirfield Village clubhouse in a then great share of eighth place.
And while he should have been pleased, a deeper look into his round shows the current World No.25 has much work to do in all departments to replicate his victorious 148th Open Championship winning form of 51 weeks ago.
“I said on coming here to Muirfield Village, that all in all, I feel like my game is really good,” said Lowry.
“It was disappointing after such a long lay-off to have missed the cut in the Charles Schwab and the Heritage. I’ve just struggled on the greens a little bit and I just need to build up a little bit of confidence. I feel like I’m right where I want to be, it’s just on the greens I need to improve.
“My game tee-to-green has been fine and if I can just get better on the greens, I feel I’ll be there or thereabouts.”
A check of his opening day Workday stats reveals Lowry hit just eight of 14 fairways, 11 of 18 greens in regulation and while he one-putted his opening two holes, he recorded a tally of 30 putts.
Graeme McDowell outshone his Open winning compatriot on a fine day for Ireland’s contenders.
After cruising to a healthy minus-three through six holes, McDowell had given all three shots back by the 12th to drop to even par before rallying with four birdies in his last seven holes to sign for a superb four-under par round of 68.
Gmac, who had a couple of weeks off after his caddie Ken Comboy tested positive for the virus prior to the Travelers Championship, looked every bit refreshed and sits just three shots back of Collin Morikawa’s lead in a share of seventh spot heading for round two.
Friday’s tee-times (Irish time)
13.07 – Graeme McDowell
17.48 – Shane Lowry
Full scoring HERE
Here is Lowry’s full scorecard details (courtesy of the PGA Tour)
Lowry, who commenced his from the 10th hole, finished his round tied for 8th at 3 under;
On the 583-yard par-5 11th hole, Lowry reached the green in 3 and sunk a 30-inch putt for birdie. This moved Lowry to 1 under for the round.
Lowry got a bogey on the 363-yard par-4 14th, getting on the green in 3 and two putting, moving Lowry to even-par for the round.
At the 201-yard par-3 16th, Lowry hit a tee shot 203 yards at the green, setting himself up for the 18-foot putt for birdie. This moved Lowry to 1 under for the round.
On the 478-yard par-4 17th, Lowry had a bogey after hitting the green in 3 and two putting, moving Lowry to even for the round.
After a drive to the left rough on the 455-yard par-4 second hole, Lowry chipped in his third, carding a birdie for the hole. This moved Lowry to 1 under for the round.
On the 200-yard par-3 fourth, Lowry’s his chip went 9 yards to the green where he rolled a two-putt for bogey. This moved him to even-par for the round.
On the par-5 fifth, Lowry’s approach shot set himself up for the birdie on the hole. This moved Lowry to 1 under for the round.
After a drive to left side of the fairway on the par-5 seventh, Lowry hit his 244-yard approach to 4 feet, setting himself up for a eagle. This moved Lowry to 3 under for the round.
Here is GMac’s full scorecard details (courtesy of the PGA Tour)
Graeme McDowell hit 15 of 18 greens in regulation during his first round at the Workday Charity Open, finishing at 4 under for the tournament. McDowell finished his day tied for 7th at 4 under; Collin Morikawa is in 1st at 7 under; Adam Hadwin is in 2nd at 6 under; and Hideki Matsuyama, Nick Taylor, Aaron Wise, and Zach Johnson are tied for 3rd at 5 under.
After a drive to the right side of the fairway on the 471-yard par-4 10th hole, McDowell had a 189 yard approach shot, setting himself up for the birdie. This moved McDowell to 1 under for the round.
On the par-4 13th, McDowell’s 184 yard approach to 6 feet set himself up for the birdie on the hole. This moved McDowell to 2 under for the round.
After a drive to the right rough on the 560-yard par-5 15th hole, McDowell hit an approach shot from 110 yards to 5 feet, setting himself up for the birdie on the hole. This moved McDowell to 3 under for the round.
On the 484-yard par-4 18th, McDowell had a bogey after hitting the green in 3 and two putting, moving McDowell to 2 under for the round.
McDowell got a double bogey on the 455-yard par-4 second, getting on the green in 4 and two putting, moving McDowell to even for the round.
After a drive to the left side of the fairway on the 401-yard par-4 third hole, McDowell had a 99 yard approach shot, setting himself up for the birdie. This moved McDowell to 1 under for the round.
On the 527-yard par-5 fifth, McDowell had a birdie after hitting the green in 2 and two putting. This moved McDowell to 2 under for the round.
On the par-4 sixth, McDowell’s 143 yard approach to 4 feet set himself up for the birdie on the hole. This moved McDowell to 3 under for the round.
After a drive to left rough on the par-5 seventh, McDowell hit his 90 yard approach to 6 feet, setting himself up for a birdie. This was his 3rd under-par hole in a row and moved McDowell to 4 under for the round.
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