So, Shane Lowry was giving Rory McIlroy a bit of a hard time during the opening round of the Zurich Classic. Seems like a bit of friendly ribbing really.
McIlroy apparently, admitted that his playing partner and friend Lowry, was giving him some stick early on in the round. Seems like a classic case of mates giving each other a hard time. This week is actually McIlroy’s first PGA Tour appearance since his Masters victory a couple of weeks ago – quite the achievement, becoming only the sixth golfer ever to complete the career grand slam.
Amazing, isn’t it? He’s paired up with Lowry, which is a nice touch. They’re both hoping to be the first team to successfully defend their title at TPC Louisiana McIlroy went back to Northern Ireland for Easter to celebrate his win with his parents, who unfortunately missed the Masters. He did however manage to pick up a bit of an illness during his time back home. Seems like it affected him a bit during the first round, to be honest.
Luckily, though, it was fourballs on Thursday, so he had Lowry there to lean on. It took a little while but McIlroy finally got a birdie for the team on the 10th hole, the par-4 1st. Lowry, naturally, wasn’t letting McIlroy forget his somewhat sluggish start.
He was, of course, just kidding. He even told McIlroy he could have slept in and it’s easy to imagine the good-natured banter.
“Shane got off to a really good start and I didn’t do anything, “McIlroy said.
And then”Shane joked I could have got a couple extra hours in bed if I wanted to.”
But hey he picked it up later on, so it wasn’t all bad. They felt like they left a few shots out there though. They’re keeping their eyes on the important rounds, on Friday and Sunday. That’s where the real work is.
Anyway McIlroy and Lowry managed an 8-under 64 in the first round, which is still respectable.
However they’re still six shots behind the leaders, who have set a pretty incredible pace.
