Shane Lowry is just four shots off the lead after the opening round of the Open de España at Real Club de Campo Villa de Madrid after a one-under round of 70 on a day where just 31 of the 132 players broke par.
The reigning Irish Open champion was making his first start since the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth which shortly followed his near-incredible victory at Doonbeg, and got off to a slow start, finding himself one-over through four before finding birdies on 14 and 16 – his fifth and seventh holes – to reach the turn in red figures.
Two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine resulted in a 70 that left him tied for 21st and four behind the leading trio of Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, and Scotsmen Grant Forrest and Connor Syme.
Tom McKibbin would have fancied his chances having finished tied for fourth last year and with a T6 finish at the British Masters and a T5 at Doonbeg on his recent C.V. but despite a bright start in which he made three birdies in a four-hole stretch, the Holywood man turned at one-under and then bogeyed three of the first five on the way home with just one birdie to card a one-over 72 to share 48th.
Chacarra, playing alongside Lowry and Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed, suffered through the pain barrier after breaking a toe recently in the United States and made two eagles, four birdies and three bogeys on his way to a 66 that set the clubhouse target that was later matched by the two Scots.
Should Chacarra win his National Open and Reed miss the cut – the American shot a two-over 73 and lies tied for 74th – the Spaniard would not only overtake Rory McIlroy but Reed as well and move to the top of the Race to Dubai.
But he insists he’s taking it one day at a time regarding the injury.
“It doesn’t really hurt when I’m swinging,” he said. “That’s the only good thing. It’s why I can still make a score, but it’s just been really tough to walk.
“I made it through today but the pain I had [over] the last holes walking is something that I don’t know if it’s worth it because I’ve got a lot to play for in the next couple of weeks.
“So, I’ll just sit down with the team and see what we decide because it was tough.”
Daniel Hillier, Jacob Skov Olesen, and another pair of home favourites in Angel Ayora and Sergio Garcia share fourth place on -4, with a further seven players at -3.
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