There’s more than one way to mend a broken heart and a two-under 70 will have reinvigorated Shane Lowry’s confidence as he looks to strike back at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Lowry, whose double bogey finish cost him a first victory in nearly four years, is looking to go one better and lies in a share of twelfth place, five shots behind Francesco Molinari who rolled back the years at Emirates Golf Club.
The Offaly man made a habit of a quick start last week and he did so again with an opening birdie before following up a bogey on 12 with a birdie on the 14th. He was denied a birdie on the par-5 13th after his third shot rattled the flagstick and spun eleven feet away.
After dropping a shot on the 16th, he birdied the par-5 18th to turn in 36 and two birdies on the 3rd and 8th either side of a bogey on the 4th capped off a solid opener and he joins Tyrrell Hatton and co on that two-under mark.
But the day belonged to Italian veteran Molinari who produced a vintage display in birdieing his last three holes to take a one-shot lead on seven-under after a sublime 65, his lowest score since the 2017 Italian Open.
The 2018 Open champion is back working with his old coach Denis Pugh and he reaped the rewards with eight birdies and just one bogey.
“It’s been a long time. I’ve changed everything and then I’ve changed back. I’m back working with Denis Pugh. That’s been really nice. He doesn’t travel to tournaments anymore but I see him just a day a month at home, and he’s always been great and sort of simplifying stuff for me and clearing stuff out of my mind that doesn’t need to be there. And yeah, that’s been the biggest help.”
Molinari made a blistering start with four birdies and aa bogey in his first five holes and after a run of seven straight pars he got back on the birdie train with a birdie at the par-3 4th.
Seemingly heading for the most difficult stretch of the golf course, the 43-year-old made light work of the 7th, 8th and 9th holes with three successive birdies to finish.
Heavily linked with the European captaincy in Adare Manor next year if Luke Donald opts out of a third successive term, Molinari looks the favourite to succeed him. Although he gave a glimpse that as a player he still has a lot to offer the game.
“I mean, obviously good comes to mind. Not super unexpected but I wasn’t expecting a score like that. Last week I felt very rusty, so I was hoping it would be very good prep for this week. Yeah, putter was the biggest difference to be honest. Made some nice putts. Kept the round going in the middle where played a couple of iffy holes and made some good pars. Obviously very, very pleased with the start.”
Meanwhile, Tom McKibbin is in a share of 24th place on one-under after a 71 while his playing partner Pádraig Harrington let a good start slip as after birdies on the 2nd and 10th holes, bogeys on 14 and 16 saw him settle for a 72.
An out of sorts Rory McIlroy who is chasing a record extending fifth title here is a shot further back after an erratic 73.
Scoring HERE
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