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Golf

Lowry makes promising start in Abu Dhabi

The 2019 Open Champion is five-under-par after a 67, which included six birdies and a solitary bogey.



Lowry makes promising start in...
Golf

Lowry makes promising start in Abu Dhabi

Shane Lowry is within touching distance of the leaders after the first day's play at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The 2019 Open Champion is five-under-par after a 67, which included six birdies and a solitary bogey.

That leaves him four shots adrift of leader Scott Jamieson, who is out on front on nine-under.

The highlight was a deft chip on the 15th, which was Lowry's sixth birdie of the day.

He's best of the Irish, with the remainder of the contingent failing to ignite.

Padraig Harrington shot a one-over 73, while Jonathan Caldwell was three-over through 15 before play was suspended due to fading light.

Rory McIlroy is level par, after what he described as a 'frustrating' first round.

He mixed four bogeys with four birdies to end with a 72.

"It was a frustrating finish to a frustrating day," he said, following a bogey six at the par-five 18th.

"I actually felt like I hit the ball okay as I started off hitting some nice shots and I missed a few chances early.

"I struggled to read the greens, if anything, as I felt like I hit some good putts that just didn't go in and that putt on the last was the story of the day.

"I felt I had started it online with good speed and it just didn't do what I thought it was going to do.

"So, hopefully, I can start hitting good putts and they start to drop."

Viktor Hovland - the Norweigan who impressed at last year's Ryder Cup - is well-placed in second on eight-under.

Another European team member, Ian Poulter, is in a good position despite a disappointing finish.

He had got to eight-under before a double-bogey on the par-four 16th, before finishing with two pars for a 66.

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Abu-dhabi Abu Dhabi Hsbc Championship Golf Jonathan Caldwell Padraig Harrington Rory McIlroy Shane Lowry