LAST UPDATE | 2 Jun 2023
SHANE LOWRY AND Seamus Power have both made bright starts at the first round of the Memorial Tournament on the PGA Tour.
Lowry fired a three-under 69 to share third spot with seven others in the field, including Jordan Spieth.
American Davis Riley is out the outright leader on five-under while Power has a place in the top 10 heading into the second round having carded two-under.
Jon Rahm is one of a glut of players level with Power, although there was frustration for Rory McIlroy who was just one shot off the lead when he triple-bogeyed on the 18th hole.
The Holywood man had to settle for even-par 72, a result which sees him currently tied for 33th place.
Lowry made a phenomenal start to his round with a par on the 10th preceding a blistering run of five straight birdies from the 11th to the 15th.
He ended his front nine in a disappointing fashion with bogeys on the 16th and 18th, that trend continuing with a dropped shot on the first to leave him at two-under.
Hit hit back immediately with his sixth birdie of the day arriving on the second hole, before playing consistently from there to the finish as he recorded seven straight pars.
Power reached the turn on two-under after a string of birdies between the 6th and 8th turned his front nine around after a bogey on the 3rd. He moved to three-under with a birdie on the 11th before a bogey on the 15th ensured he would have to settle for a round of 70.
McIlroy, part of the later group teeing off, birdied on the 3rd, 8th, 11th and 15th, with just one bogey on hole 10 leaving him in a strong position. Until his nightmare showing on the 18th. He’s currently joint 32nd.
Meanwhile on the DP World Tour, Tom McKibbin and John Murphy were both competing in the first round of the Porsche European Open.
McKibbin carded a one-under par 72 to stand in a tie for 13th and Murphy was one-over after a 74 to leave him in a tie for 38th, after their opening rounds at the Green Eagle Golf Courses in Hamburg, Germany.
McKibbin had three birdies and two bogeys in his opening round. He began on the 10th and was out in one-under 37, dropped a shot on the 2nd and then finished positively with a birdie on the par-five 9th.
Murphy recovered impressively from a difficult front nine in his round. He had bogeys on the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 8th holes, with a birdie on the 5th helping to repair the damage. His back nine saw no dropped shots with birdies arriving on the 12th and 15th.
The lead is held by German Maximilian Kieffer and Swedish golfer Simon Forsstrom, both four-under after their rounds of 69.
