Both men overcame rocky starts in Ohio
Shane Lowry(Image: Getty Images)
Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy both registered below-par opening rounds at the Memorial Tournament on Thursday after overcoming rocky starts.
The pair are back in action for the first time since the PGA Championship after skipping the last two tournaments on the PGA Tour, THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson and Charles Schwab Challenge, both of which took place in Texas over the past fortnight.
Lowry, on two-under par, is just three shots behind the leading quartet made up of the American trio of J. J. Spaun, Wyndham Clark and Ryan Gerard, as well as England’s Tommy Fleetwood, who all shot five-under 67s at Muirfield.
The Offaly man’s round began with bogeys on the opening two holes before he got his first birdie on the par-five fifth, but another bogey followed on the par-five seventh. However, further birdies on the eighth, 11th, 13th, 15th and 17th, with one more bogey on 16, saw Lowry finish register a 70.
Meanwhile, McIlroy was forced to accept a one-under-par opening round in Ohio following further difficulties off the tee, which cost him a shot on the final hole.
The Masters champion is competing in just his sixth regular PGA Tour tournament this year at Muirfield, an event hosted by 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus.
The Holywood man, who secured a tie for seventh at last month’s PGA Championship, continues to customise his calendar around personal priorities—with attention now shifting to the forthcoming US Open at Shinnecock Hills, New York.
After finding water on the third for a double bogey, McIlroy rallied impressively with three consecutive birdies to make the turn at one under.
Rory McIlroy (Image: Getty Images)
A wayward drive at the 13th sent the 37-year-old deep into thick rough on the left side, yet an excellent recovery enabled him to salvage par, before a brilliant approach landing within two feet on the 14th produced another birdie.
McIlroy’s second shot on the par-five 15th ricocheted off the Nicklaus Club tent wall and tumbled back down the slope, though he managed to chip onto the green’s edge before safely securing par.
On the 18th, the world number two delivered another errant tee shot into the left rough, barely avoiding the water hazard, before attempting to scramble. Unfortunately, he couldn’t convert a seven-foot putt to rescue par and completed his round with a 71.
“I felt like I played pretty well, for the most part, especially after making that double (bogey) on the third hole, to play the rest of the round in three under was good,” McIlroy remarked following his round.
“It is a tough course, you have to concentrate on every shot. The greens are very firm already, very fast, (you) get yourself above the hole, it is very tricky.
“I felt like I did well again. I would like to hit a few more fairways, give myself a few more chances from the short grass, but overall, not a bad score to build from.”