UPDATE: Shane Lowry has taken the lead on the opening day of the India Championship, carding an impressive eight-under 64 at the Delhi Golf Course today. In stark contrast to the abusive crowd he faced during the Ryder Cup in New York, Lowry found joy in the chaotic sounds of Delhi traffic, claiming the noise was “not as off-putting” as the crowd at Bethpage.
Lowry, playing alongside European captain Luke Donald and teammate Tommy Fleetwood, hit a remarkable streak of five consecutive birdies on the back nine. His performance allowed him to surpass long-time clubhouse leader Keita Nakajima by a single stroke, demonstrating his resilience and skill under pressure.
“We had a great time and I just rolled off a few more birdies than they did on the back nine,” said Lowry, who was a key player in retaining the Ryder Cup. “There was a little Ryder Cup chat out there, but at the end of the day, we are all professional golfers and ultimately we all want to beat each other, even though we are friends.”
Both Donald and Fleetwood finished the round with scores of four-under 68. Meanwhile, fellow Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy struggled to keep pace, finishing five shots back with a score of three-under 69. McIlroy opted to leave his driver in the locker due to the tight course layout but still managed to card six birdies, despite suffering from three bogeys.
McIlroy started strong, chipping in from the fringe on the tenth hole, but faced challenges afterward, including a three-putt that led to back-to-back bogeys. He managed to recover with birdies on the two par fives but ultimately bogeyed the 522-yard eighth hole.
“Dog (driver) was out of the bag, probably asleep in the locker,” McIlroy remarked about his club choice. “Sometimes if you’re really conservative off a par-five today, you might prefer a five-wood into the green.”
This tournament marks the beginning of a critical end-of-year stretch for McIlroy, who is also set to compete in the Abu Dhabi Championship, the European Tour Championship, and the Australian Open.
In a disappointing start for Australian players, Jason Scrivener recorded a one-over 73, while David Micheluzzi finished with a score of four-over 76.
As the India Championship unfolds, all eyes will be on Lowry as he strives to maintain his lead. Fans and players alike are eager to see if he can carry this momentum forward into the next rounds.
