Shane Lowry was in an upbeat despite dropping a shot at the last for a 70 in miserable wet and windy conditions on day one of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Lowry was sharing sixth place coming down the famed 18th but after sending his 50-yard wedge shot just off the back of the green his fourth, a chip shot, hit the flagstick but rolling eight feet past from where he two-putted.
His round of six birdies and four bogeys handed him a clubhouse share of ninth spot but just two shots off the lead and ending play about an hour before play was halted due to flooded greens.
”It was very tough out there and the only comfort was that we were out really early (7.11am local time) so that was a little plus so I am very happy to get off the course at two under,” he said.
“An example of how hard the wind was blowing was at 14 where I hit a monster drive (349-yards) down the fairway while at 18 my tee shot went about 260-yards as the wind was really whipping off the ocean.”
“I think if I was at home and the weather was like this outside I wouldn’t go out and play golf. So it’s just I have to do it today.”
“But yeah, I just know how to deal with these conditions, it’s obviously very tough. There’s, I don’t know, a three club wind out there anyway, so it’s one of those days where you just have to batten down the hatches and try and make pars and just keep making pars and then take your chances when they come and that’s what I did today.
”So just very happy to get off the course.”
Playing partner Padraig Harrington was struggling to be four over par after 10 holes but did birdie two of his closing four holes including chipping to just four feet at the last for a score of 74.
”That tee shot off the last over the beach is a daunting shot even on a sunny day, so that’s why I didn’t hit driver for fear of finding the water,” he said.
”So it was tough but then it was when the rain came in for the last few holes that made it really awful.”
Seamus Power, contesting the event for a first time, birdied his opening two holes at Spyglass Hillls, and one of three host venues, to join Lowry with a 70.
Three players – the American pair of Rick Lamb and Joel Dahmen plus Korean Seung-Yul Noh and with all three competing at nearby Spyglass Hill – share the clubhouse lead on four under par.
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