Zurich Traditional: Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry keep lead, their wits

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry decimated TPC Louisiana to open the Zurich Traditional, tying the low rounds of the day by capturing an 11-under 61 through the first spherical of finest ball.

Their second spherical, which employs an alternate shot format, didn’t come as simply. The all-Irish duo mixed to shoot a 2-under 70 on Friday, not dangerous contemplating the problem of alternate shot and the blustery circumstances.

However their rating ought to have been two or three strokes decrease.

“I had missed a couple of [putts] across the flip,” Lowry mentioned. “I missed a fairly brief one on 18 after which one other one on the second.”

The brief miss on 18 damage, particularly because the Irish had put themselves in a major place to make a birdie on the 572-yard par-5. One other brief miss on the par-5 2nd adopted.

Photograph by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Pictures

Strolling over to the third tee, McIlroy and Lowry have been at 1-under for the day and 12-under for the match. However Lowry, clearly rattled by his misses, hit a poor tee shot on the par-3 third, which led to a different bogey.

“After these, it’s straightforward to type of get exhausting on your self, and I used to be simply attempting to maintain him as constructive as attainable and simply remind him that I’m right here and I’m right here to again him up in any manner that I can,” McIlroy mentioned.

“Simply attempting to maintain him constructive.”

McIlroy’s encouragement clearly helped Lowry, who then got here within the clutch on the par-4 4th. He drained a par putt there to assist construct momentum happening the stretch.

“I began to get just a little bit into myself, however to roll that one in was good, and to play the previous couple of holes the best way we did was very nice, too,” Lowry mentioned.

“I believe a little bit of a lesson there for myself to maintain going and simply hold attempting and hold plugging away. We did that immediately, and I’m fairly pleased with how we completed.”

The Irish performed properly over their previous few holes, thanks partly to McIlroy’s beautiful size. Lowry arrange McIlroy properly on the par-5 seventh, because the Northern Irishman’s second shot barely trickled over the inexperienced. A simple birdie then adopted.

On the subsequent gap, McIlroy unloaded his drive into the greenside bunker—a par-4 that measures 372 yards. Lowry then hit a spectacular bunker shot, main McIlroy to empty the brief birdie and leap as much as 13-under and right into a share of the lead.

Photograph by Chris Graythen/Getty Pictures

McIlroy’s size and Lowry’s finesse got here in helpful, because the Irish completed birdie, birdie, par.

“Shane has received an exquisite brief sport,” McIlroy added. “He provides me confidence going for these greens, whether or not it’s the par-4s or the par-5s, and if I get it wherever up there across the inexperienced, I’m going to have an excellent search for birdie after he hits his.”

Following their spherical, Lowry was requested about his feedback Thursday relating to a go to to the French Quarter.

“No, no, no. We’re right here to play a golf match. We’ll take pleasure in ourselves. We’ll go for a pleasant dinner tonight,” Lowry mentioned. “I’ll return to the lodge, clean up, and go for just a little stroll across the metropolis.”

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By. You’ll want to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.