Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BRINGING MY OLD PUTTER WAS WORTHWHILE
Familiarity proving vital for Shane
SHANE LOWRY is sitting pretty in the PGA Championship after getting hot on the Wentworth greens with an old putter.
After shooting a promising opening round of 67 on a course he loves, he backed it up with a seven-under par 65.
And it leaves the 33-yearold level at the top on -12 with Matthew Fitzpatrick, who would have beaten Paul Mcginley ’s 36-hole record around Wentworth (-13) had he parred his last hole.
Six years ago, Lowry was runner-up to Rory Mcilroy in the tournament and could go one better tomorrow.
Right now he’s certainly odds-on to add to the topfour finishes he has had in the event and he’s happy that a last-minute decision to bring the old putter is paying off.
“I really only decided to c ome h ere on Sunday,” smiled the Offaly man after a bogey-free second round.
“Then on Monday I was like, ‘Right, I need to pack my bag’ and I saw this putter just sitting there, and I was like, ‘Ah!’.
“I put it down and had a look at it and was like, “Ah well, I’ ll bring it for a spin anyway’.
“Then I went and played nine holes with my coach on Monday evening around the K Club and was putting quite nicely, so I was pretty happy with it.
“It’s definitely worked so far.”
Lowry, 33, was supposed to take five weeks off after the Irish Open at Galgorm Castle, where he missed the cut only a fortnight ago. But a week at home with his family left him refreshed and ready to go again.
His round yesterday was the seventh time he has shot 67 or lower at Wentworth – an indication of how much he enjoys playing there.
“I don’t know, I just always have,” he told Sky Sports. “I came here in 2010 when Ernie (Els) did the re-do first, and I remember everyone moaning that year but I absolutely loved the place.
“They ’ve made a l ot of changes since then, they’ve made the course great and it’s not as hard as it was, and I just love coming back.
“It’s obviously dif ferent now, we can’t leave the hotel, but even staying in Covert Park... it’s just an amazing place to come and play golf and stay. I l ove it all the time.”