Lowry grabs one-shot lead at RBC Heritage

LOS ANGELES: Shane Lowry is hoping to learn from past experience to maintain his one-shot lead at the RBC Heritage after opening with a bogey-free 65 on Thursday.

In the Irishman’s only other appearance at the PGA Tour event two years ago, he shot a 65 in the first round before dropping a 75 in the second and finishing with a two under total at the end of Sunday’s round.

“A couple of years ago I got off to a good start and I maybe tried to force it a little bit,” Lowry said. “So just try to stay patient the next few days.”

“I enjoyed today. It’s nice to shoot a good score. And it’s my first good score in a few weeks. So just enjoy that and just get out there tomorrow and get after it.”

Lowry has a slight lead over five Americans, including Ryan Moore and Luke List, who all shot five under 66 at the Harbour Town course in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Kevin Na, Rory Sabbatini and Patrick Cantlay are part of a group of eight players tied for seventh after shooting 67s. Lowry has his work cut out for him on Friday as there are two dozen golfers within three shots of the lead.

“I’m happy with my golf,” Lowry said. “My scores haven’t been great as of late. But I felt like I’ve been playing okay. So maybe this is a reward for the perseverance.”

Lowry needed just 27 putts in the first round, but more importantly, he stepped up his game by making birdie on the par-fives.

On each of the three pars fives he sank birdie putts of three feet or less.

“It was something I’ve been struggling with — my par-five scoring hasn’t been very good,” Lowry said.

“I just played them nicely today. I struggled off the tee quite a bit this year, and I managed to find a new driver that I like. I hit that pretty good. And when you do that on par-fives it always gives yourself a chance.”

Meanwhile, Michael Jordan described Tiger Woods’ Masters come back as the “greatest ever” and added he called the golfing icon to personally congratulate him.

“To me it is the greatest comeback I have ever seen,” Jordan told The Athletic.

“I never thought he’d get back physically. He didn’t think he’d get back physically. But he did it. No one expected him to be back the way he is now.

“He’s probably the only person who believed he could get back. To me, that’s a major accomplishment. To me, it’s unbelievable.”

Woods ended an 11-year major drought with a thrilling and emotional Masters victory on Sunday.

Aged 43, Woods trails only Jack Nicklaus who won at age 46 in 1986. Woods has 15 major championships, second to Nicklaus’ 18.