INN THE HOLE!
Lowry’s sinking putts but he’d rather be sinking pints
SHANE LOWRY is on course to toast another big win at the BMW PGA after the Open champion revealed he is only at Wentworth because the pubs are shut back home.
The world No31 missed the cut at last month’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open – his first event back in Europe after a spell in the US – and was ready to take another week off.
But his plans changed when Covid- 19 rules were tightened in the Republic of Ireland and pubs and restaurants were closed.
After deciding to arrive at the West Course on Tuesday night, he has produced rounds of 67 and 65 to share the halfway lead with Matt Fitzpatrick.
“I probably needed a bit of a break to be honest,” said Lowry.
“I wasn’t sure whether I was going to come or not and I decided to come late on Sunday night when I was watching the news back home.
“It said we were going to go under a stricter lockdown and you couldn’t really do anything.
“So, I am only here because the pubs are shut. I texted [ caddie] Bo [ Martin], ‘ Do you fancy going this week?’
“I think he was down at the pub having a pint so he wasn’t too happy. But I am glad we came. I just love coming back here.”
Lowry, who also brought an old putter with a new grip to England, was joined on 12- under by Fitzpatrick after the Ryder Cup star also fired a 65.
Sheffield pro Fitzpatrick then claimed that Bryson DeChambeau is making a “mockery” of golf.
Playing his first event as a Major champion, the bulked- up US Open winner shot an opening 62 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas and drove the green at the 380- yard seventh hole.
World No20 Fitzpatrick, who weighs just 11- stone, said: “It makes a bit of a mockery of it. When he’s on, there’s no point, is there? It doesn’t matter if I play my best, he’s going to be 50 yards in front of me off the tee and the only thing I can compete with him is putting – and that’s just ridiculous.
“I really hope the R& A and USGA do something about distance. It’s not a skill to hit the ball a long way. I could put on 40 pounds. I could go and see a bio- mechanist and
I could gain 40 yards. It’s just daft.”
Asked if DeChambeau will eventually injure himself, Fitzpatrick said:
“I think so. All that stuff, it will take a toll eventually.”
First- round co- leader Tyrrell Hatton followed his opening 66 with a 67 to sit one shot back of the leaders.