UPDATE: Shane Lowry is making waves at the India Championship, taking the lead with a remarkable eight-under 64 on the opening day, just confirmed moments ago. The noise of Delhi’s chaotic traffic is a welcome distraction compared to the verbal abuse he faced at the Ryder Cup in New York.
Lowry, playing alongside European captain Luke Donald and teammate Tommy Fleetwood, showcased his skills with eight birdies, including five in a row on the back nine at the Delhi Golf Course. His stellar performance puts him one stroke ahead of long-time clubhouse leader Keita Nakajima.
“It was a really nice group, playing with Luke and Tommy,” said Lowry, who previously holed the winning putt at the Ryder Cup. He added, “We all had a great time, and we just rolled off a few more birdies than they did on the back nine.” Lowry noted the contrasting atmosphere, stating, “We could hear the horns from the road – it was not as off-putting as the Bethpage crowd!”
Both Donald and Fleetwood finished strong, carding four-under 68. Meanwhile, fellow Ryder Cup star Rory McIlroy is currently five shots back after finishing with a three-under 69. McIlroy’s strategy of leaving his driver in the locker did not hinder his scoring; however, he struggled with three bogeys.
McIlroy started impressively, chipping in for birdie on his first hole but faced setbacks with back-to-back bogeys soon after. “Dog (driver) was out of the bag, probably asleep in the locker,” McIlroy joked about his conservative club choice. He added, “You’re just really trying to be as conservative as possible off the tee and then trying to pick off birdies on the par fives.”
This championship marks the beginning of a crucial end-of-year run for McIlroy, who plans to compete in the Abu Dhabi Championship, the European Tour Championship, and the Australian Open.
In contrast, Australian players Jason Scrivener and David Micheluzzi had disappointing starts, finishing with scores of one-over 73 and four-over 76, respectively.
As the action unfolds in Delhi, all eyes are on Lowry as he aims to maintain his lead and fend off a strong field of competitors in this exciting championship. Stay tuned for further updates as the India Championship progresses.
