Rahm surprises himself as Lowry struggles in Madrid winds
Shane Lowry failed to make a birdie for the first time all season as winds gusting to 69 kmph sent scores soaring in the acciona Open de España.
The Offaly man might be low on energy as he plays his ninth event in 11 weeks and his third in a row.
But his ball striking was far from its best at Madrid’s tight and tricky Club de Campo but 33 putts didn’t help as he made bogeys at the 10th, 12th, 17th and sixth in a four over 75
It means the Clara man will likely have to break 70 today to avoid missing the cut for only the third time in 24 starts this year.
Spain’s Angel Hidalgo looked to be playing a different course than the rest as he fired a six-under 65 to lead by two shots from France’s Julien Guerrier, Austria’s Sepp Straka and England’s Sam Bairstow.
The Las Brisas man raced to the turn in 30 and picked up further shots at the 11th and 15th to get to eight-under before coming back to the field with bogeys at the 16th and 17th.
As for Jon Rahm, the LIV Golf star pleasantly surprised himself and birdied the 17th and 18th to open with a three-under 68 as he bids for his fourth Spanish Open win in six years.
“I was telling somebody before the round… just flying in yesterday afternoon, not having touched a club in a while, and between being sick and hospital beds, with the wind forecasted, if I could somehow break 75, I'll be happy and see if I can work myself into the tournament,” Rahm said.
“You know, I keep putting it in play for the most part, and giving myself good looks. Made a few really good par putts on 6 and 11 that saved the round. Had a great finish and I find myself with a great score that is rather, I would say, unexpected.”
It was also a good day for Conor Purcell as he bids to take another step towards securing his DP World Tour card in the weather-affected Swiss Challenge.
Ranked 10th in the Road to Mallorca standings in the race for 20 cards at the end of the season, the Portmarnock star (27) carded four birdies in a bogey- 68 to share the clubhouse lead with France’s Benjamin Herbert on four-under.
Ben Stow was five-under with just the 18th to play before play was suspended for the day due to a flooded course at Golf Saint Apollinaire.
The Englishman is making his first Challenge Tour appearance for nearly two years due to injuries and he was pleased with his sharpness after such a long lay-off.
“It’s been two years of injuries and very difficult times,” he said. “To be back out here competing and doing what I love is amazing and even though it rained all day, I really enjoyed being out there.”
Jonny Caldwell and John Murphy played just two holes in one-under before play was called off, while Cormac Sharvin was level after two holes and Gary Hurley one-over after four.
On the Ladies European Tour, Castlewarden’s Lauren Walsh continued her sensational rookie season by making seven birdies in a four-under 67 in the Lacoste Ladies Open de France.
The Carton House touring professional was tied for fourth as she seeks her maiden win, just one shot behind England’s Bel Wardle, France’s Emma Grechi and Australia’s Kirsten Rudgeley at Golf Barriere in Deauville.
Douglas’ Sara Byrne was tied 27th after she made four birdies and four bogeys in level par 71.
