SHANE LOWRY holed out for an historic eagle during the opening round at at US Open
The Offaly ace banged in the shot after a tough start alongside Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose at the unforgiving Oakmont.
Shane Lowry holed out for eagle on the 2nd hole during his first round at the US Open
Lowry was playing his 12th hole of the day and was +6 when he landed the eagle
The third hole at Oakmont has never given up an eagle 2 in US Open history – until today.
Shane Lowry delivered the stunning highlight midway through his round – holing out for eagle from 160 yards on the par-4 third hole at Oakmont, his 12th of the day.
The Offaly man was boiling at six-over-par at the time, having made a sluggish start after beginning his round on the back nine alongside Ryder Cup teammates Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose.
But Lowry’s approach at bounced a few times before nipping into the cup for a walk-off eagle, offering a much-needed jolt of momentum in the season’s third major.
It briefly lifted Lowry back to +4 on a brutally tough day at the notoriously penal Pennsylvania layout.
The Clara native can take some confidence though, having finished T2 at this venue during the 2016 US Open.
World number 12 Lowry has fared well on the tougher PGA Tour tracks over the last few seasons — courses such as Bay Hill and Muirfield Village — which are considered major-level tests.
But he’ll have to get motoring as the course is playing as benign as it possibly can – with conditions expected to get incredibly tough over the coming days.
Earlier in the day, Lowry didn’t hold back as he flung TV audio equipment after a tough shot during the first round on Thursday morning.
Lowry, who began his round on the back nine alongside Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose, was already battling to stay at +6 when he tugged his tee shot into the deep rough.
Attempting to escape, he fluffed his recovery and immediately turned to express frustration toward TV broadcast equipment nearby.
Sounds could be heard from the greenside microphone as Lowry picked it up before he was seen flinging it away on the broadcast.
Elsewhere, Scottie Scheffler heads into the week as favourite after winning three of his last four starts.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy will be hoping to put his recent driver woes behind him after a horror showing at last week’s RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto.
All the action is live on Sky Sports Golf.
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