SHANE LOWRY BOUNCED back from his Dubai Invitational disappointment as he opened with a two-under par 70 at the Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday.
The Clara native sits five shots off leader Francesco Molinari who shot a seven-under round. The Italian holds a two shot lead at the top of the leaderboard.
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Rory McIlroy finished his opening round on one-over par, his card blemished by double-bogey on the par-five 18th where he found the water in front of the green after laying up with his second shot.
Pádraig Harrington dropped two shots in the latter stages of his round to finish his day on level-par, with Tom McKibbin finishing on a solid one-under.
After making the turn in one-under, Lowry needed to be at his resourceful best on the par-four fifth, controlling a superb approach shot off the cart path to within ten feet and then two-putting to save par.
The Clara native then played his way out of trouble on eight after finding a fairway bunker off the tee, hitting the heart of the green and then rolling in a 24-footer for birdie.
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Shane Lowry leads Irish charge on opening morning of Dubai Desert Classic
LAST UPDATE | 22 Jan
SHANE LOWRY BOUNCED back from his Dubai Invitational disappointment as he opened with a two-under par 70 at the Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday.
The Clara native sits five shots off leader Francesco Molinari who shot a seven-under round. The Italian holds a two shot lead at the top of the leaderboard.
Rory McIlroy finished his opening round on one-over par, his card blemished by double-bogey on the par-five 18th where he found the water in front of the green after laying up with his second shot.
Pádraig Harrington dropped two shots in the latter stages of his round to finish his day on level-par, with Tom McKibbin finishing on a solid one-under.
After making the turn in one-under, Lowry needed to be at his resourceful best on the par-four fifth, controlling a superb approach shot off the cart path to within ten feet and then two-putting to save par.
The Clara native then played his way out of trouble on eight after finding a fairway bunker off the tee, hitting the heart of the green and then rolling in a 24-footer for birdie.
Dubai Golf