LAST UPDATE | 18 Jun 2020
IAN POULTER CLAIMED a share of the lead after shooting a seven-under round of 64 at the PGA’s RBC Heritage event.
Poulter had an early tee time at Hilton Head and took a liking to conditions, going blemish-free and finishing with a spring in his step by claiming four birdies after the turn.
The Englishman finished tied for 29th at last week’s Charles Schwab Challenge, the tour’s first tournament back after the coronavirus shutdown, and will start round two level with American Mark Hubbard.
World number one Rory McIlroy had a slow start, closing one over on 72. The Northern Irishman, who has questioned the wisdom of European players who have declined to travel, hit three bogeys along the way.
“I wasn’t particularly comfortable out there,” he admitted. “I played here once before in ’09, and I just remember not being that comfortable around here then. It’s still sort of the same. I’m just not comfortable and sort of trying to pick lines and really commit to shots. I just wasn’t as committed as I need to be around here.”
Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell also struggled today, leaving them each with a battle on their hands tomorrow if they’re to be around for the weekend. A round of 75 leaves McDowell four-over, with Lowry only one stroke better.
There is a chasing pack of seven sitting one-shot back from Poulter and Hubbard, with Sheffield’s Matthew Fitzpatrick alongside Jordan Spieth on five under.
Spieth had a dicey start, including a triple-bogey at 12, but ended with a surge of momentum as he birdied seven times on the front nine.
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– Additional reporting by Paul Dollery
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