Shane Lowry asks Sergio Garcia to confirm he can take relief from casual water on the 18th hole at a soggy Valderrama. Garcia signed for a five under par round of 66 while Lowry had to settle for a one over par 72. Picture courtesy Denis Kirwan/Meridian Media
Shane Lowry was treated to a ball-striking masterclass by playing partner Sergio Garcia but was still upbeat despite opening with a one-over 72 in the Andalucia Valderrama Masters in Cadiz.
The Clara man is looking for a good finish in Spain as he's 65th in the Race to Dubai and €45,543 outside the top 60 who will qualify for next month's season-ending DP World Tour Championship with only the Turkish Airlines Open and the Nedbank Golf Challenge remaining for him.
"It's the first time in a few years I've had to worry about trying to make the Race to Dubai [finale]," Lowry told Meridian Media's, Denis Kirwan. "But listen, I am going to play the best I can the next few weeks and see what happens."
Four bogeys outweighed three birdies on a soft and testing Valderamma, and he could only look on in admiration as Masters champion Garcia birdied all four par-threes and made seven birdies in a five-under-par 66 to share the early lead with Dutchman Joost Luiten.
"I played okay, but I struggled [off the tee]," Lowry explained. "I was starting my driver a little too far left, and around here you need to be very accurate off the tee.
"I played okay but playing with Sergio, what a day of golf he put on today. It was very impressive, and you can only stand back an admire that.
"People at home who have never played here don't realise how tough this golf course is. To make five under look easy out there was very good. But listen, one over is not that bad.
"I think if you are hanging around par coming into Sunday, you will do alright in this tournament."
Lowry, who has slipped from 43rd to 88th in the world this year, paid the price for several missed fairways and indifferent putting.
"I missed three putts in a row from five feet, and if I hole those it's a completely different day," he said. "I am not too displeased. It is always nice to shoot a better score, but I will do a bit of practice this afternoon, get out there tomorrow and see what I can do."
As for Garcia's impressive 66, Lowry said: "I've always said he's one of the most impressive, if not the most impressive ball-striker in the world. He makes it look easy. Hopefully, I will have a good day tomorrow, make a few birdies and make a run at them.
"I like it here. If you hit good tee shots, you leave yourself short irons into greens. The greens this week are very soft after a lot of rain, and they are playing a lot bigger than they would normally if there were firm.
"There are a lot of holes where you can mess up, but if you do play well, you can shoot a good score."
Garcia Jnr goes two clear, Garcia Snr approves. ✊ http://pic.twitter.com/EZqTwItfx1
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 19, 2017
Lowry has rented a house in Florida for six months and is set to move there temporarily with his family for the first half of 2018 to ease his travel schedule as he bids to play on both sides of the pond.
"It will be nice for a few months to live in a nice hot place," he said. "If I don't like it, I won't stay. But if I do, I might."
Of the afternoon starters, Pádraig Harrington was one-under after seven holes while Gary Hurley started with a double bogey and was three over after five.
from News - Irish Golf Desk http://ift.tt/2yAZIIS
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