Shane Lowry carded an opening round 71 at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open on Thursday morning to rise into a share of fourth.
The Irishman started his round with a birdie on the 10th and added another at the 18th. He made two bogeys, at the 15th and 17th, to turn in level-par. His second nine included three birdies and two bogeys in unfavourable conditions and he ended the day on one-under-par. The 2009 Irish Open Champion will be happy with his opening round as he is not far off the lead.
Germany’s Martin Kaymer and 2010 Irish Open champion Ross Fisher both shot 69 to take the early lead at the K Club. Their rounds were compiled in vastly different ways.
Fisher was first into the clubhouse with a 69 that included no less than seven birdies. The Englishman got pegged back by a double bogey on the 16th (his eighth hole) and bogeys on the first and fifth.
Kaymer’s round was more sedate as the two-time major winner rolled in 14 pars and dropped only one shot. He started on the 10th and made the turn in one-over-par before making birdie at the third and eagle at the fourth. He concluded with birdie on the ninth to be one of only two players to break 70.
George Coetzee was the best placed South African in a tie for 23rd place after shooting an even-par round of 72.
