Shane Lowry made a flawless begin to his bid for a second Open title as Rory McIlroy successfully wrote off his possibilities of doing the identical at Royal Troon.
Lowry carded 5 birdies in a bogey-free 66 that was solely surpassed at 9.33pm by England’s Daniel Brown, the world quantity quantity 272 returning an excellent 65 to say a shock lead on his Open debut.
Brown, who gained his maiden DP World Tour title in Northern Eire 11 months in the past, took benefit of calmer circumstances for the later starters to birdie the third, fifth, tenth, eleventh, sixteenth and 18th.
It was a distinction which instantly dropped at thoughts the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush, when Lowry began with a 67 on his approach to the Claret Jug and McIlroy’s probabilities have been blown away with a 79.
“It was gratifying,” Lowry, who made birdies on the fourth, seventh, eighth, eleventh and 18th, informed Sky Sports activities.
“I bought off to a little bit of an iffy begin and holed a few good par putts early on after which I used to be off and operating.
“I strive not to consider it [2019] an excessive amount of now. I holed a putt to enter the lead and I assumed ‘It’s the primary time I’ve led The Open in 5 years’.
“It doesn’t matter what I try this week in Portrush will at all times have a particular place in my coronary heart. I like that place and I like this match.”
A downbeat Rory McIlroy had earlier dismissed his possibilities of mounting a problem for a fifth main title after a pricey run of holes across the flip.
McIlroy was degree par after seven holes earlier than operating up a double bogey on the signature par-three eighth, the Northern Irishman’s first try to flee a bunker on the Postage Stamp coming again to his ft.
With the again 9 taking part in downwind McIlroy was hopeful of repairing the injury, solely to drive out of bounds on the eleventh to run up one other double bogey and finally end seven over par, 12 pictures behind Lowry.
In accordance with statistician Justin Ray, lead information analyst at KPMG Efficiency Insights, 87 per cent of Open winners since 1960 have been inside 4 pictures of the lead after the primary spherical.
Requested if he may make up the bottom he had conceded, there was a prolonged pause earlier than McIlroy mentioned: “I imply, all I have to give attention to is tomorrow and attempt to make the minimize. That’s all I can give attention to.”
The 35-year-old, who agonisingly missed out on an overdue fifth main title in final month’s US Open, added: “I felt like I did OK for the primary a part of the spherical after which missed the inexperienced on the Postage Stamp there and made a double.
“However nonetheless, felt like I used to be in cheap sufficient form being a pair over by 9, pondering that I may possibly get these couple of pictures again, attempt to shoot even par, one thing like that.
“Regardless that the wind on the again 9 was serving to, it was so much off the left. I used to be truly stunned how troublesome I felt just like the again 9 performed. The circumstances are very troublesome in a wind that we haven’t seen to date this week.
“I assume when that occurs it begins to current totally different choices and also you begin to consider possibly hitting a number of golf equipment that you just haven’t hit in apply. Simply a kind of days the place I simply didn’t adapt effectively sufficient to the circumstances.”
Bryson DeChambeau, who edged out McIlroy at Pinehurst to win his second US Open, additionally discovered himself effectively down the sector following a 76, though the American did at the least gap from 55 ft for an eagle on the sixteenth.
DeChambeau’s entrance 9 of 42 included a double bogey on the 612-yard sixth, the place he may solely advance his second shot a number of yards from heavy tough earlier than hitting his subsequent onto the adjoining thirteenth fairway.
“It was a thick lie and I attempted to hit a 7-iron out, and I didn’t get it excessive sufficient,” DeChambeau mentioned.
“Then I attempted to fade a 5-wood and it squirted off the left aspect of my clubface and simply shot left. I’m simply glad no one bought harm.”
Thomas had set the clubhouse goal on three beneath par due to birdies on the seventeenth and 18th, the two-time main winner’s 68 representing a 14-shot enchancment on his opening spherical at Hoylake final 12 months.
“I couldn’t even inform you what I used to be pondering or the way it was then,” Thomas mentioned when requested to match the 2 rounds.
“I’m simply nervous about how I’m now, and I’m very happy with my sport and know issues are persevering with to work in the appropriate route. I’ve simply bought to maintain attempting to play effectively.”
Sweden’s Alex Noren, who solely secured his place within the area by way of a tie for tenth within the Scottish Open on Sunday, was a shot off the tempo alongside American Russell Henley and Ryder Cup team-mates Justin Rose and Nicolai Hojgaard.
Rose, who needed to come by a 36-hole qualifier to make it to Troon, carded two birdies and 16 pars in his bogey-free 69.
