FedEx Cup reverse for Lowry and McDowell; McIlroy five behind in Boston
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a second shot on the 17th hole during the first round of The Northern Trust at TPC Boston on August 20, 2020 in Norton, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The FedEx Cup hopes of Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell are hanging by a thread after disappointing opening rounds in the Northern Trust at TPC Boston.
Lowry (33), who likely needs to win now to move from 122nd into the top 70 in the standings who qualify for next week’s BMW Championship, mixed four birdies with five bogeys in a 72 that left him 98th in the 125-man field, eight shots off the lead. Scores
It was an even tougher day for McDowell, who must finish tied fifth, as he signed for a six-over 77 and a share of 120th.
Eighth-ranked Rory McIlroy bounced back from a slow start but left himself work to do catch the pacesetters and challenge for another $15 million FedEx Cup bonanza.
The world number 3, who has struggled to regain his pre-lockdown form, was two-over after four holes before fighting back with four birdies in his next seven.
He couldn’t quite push on signed for a two-under 69, leaving him tied 53rd and five strokes behind Harris English, Kevin Streelman, Cameron Davis, and Russell Henley, whose 64’s gave them a one-shot lead over a seven-man group on six-under.
Tiger Woods posted a three-under 68.
Irish struggle at Celtic Manor
On the European Tour, there was little to cheer about for the Irish contingent as England’s Jordan Smith and Scotland’s Connor Syme opened with five-under 66’s to lead the ISPS Handa Wales Open at a blustery Celtic Manor. Scores
They lead by two shots from Callum Shinkwin, Sebastian Soderberg, Kurt Kitayama and Robert MacIntyre with Clandeboye’s Jonathan Caldwell the best of the Irish, tied for 43rd after a one-over 72.
Cormac Sharvin is just inside the cut mark after a 73 but Paul Dunne shot 74 and Gavin Moynihan a 77 to leave them facing an uphill battle.
While Caldwell and Sharvin have shown form since returning to action, Dunne has made just one of three cuts while Moynihan has missed the last four in a row having restarted with a tie for 55th in the Austrian Open.
Connor Syme. Picture: Getty Images
This week’s event is the second in succession to be played over the Twenty Ten Course at the Wales venue, which famously held The 2010 Ryder Cup, but it presented a very different challenge as the wind switched direction on day one of the fifth tournament in the European Tour's UK Swing.
Smith, who ended last week with his best round of the tournament courtesy of a closing 67 on Sunday, went one better as the Englishman signed for a five-under opening round 66 to briefly take the outright lead.
He was soon joined at the top by Syme, who recorded his best result of the season here last week courtesy of a tied third finish. The 25-year-old Scot holed a monster putt for birdie at the difficult par five 18th to ensure his name was one of those atop the leaderboard heading into round two.
Syme’s countryman Robert MacIntyre – playing in his first UK Swing event – was two shots behind in a share of third on three under par, alongside Kurt Kitayama of the USA, England’s Callum Shinkwin and Swede Sebastian Soderberg.
Clarke in contention
On the PGA Tour Champions, Darren Clarke followed an opening 66 with a 67 to share fifth place on nine-under in the 2020 Charles Schwab Series at Bass Pro Shops Big Cedar Lodge, five strokes behind leader Shane Bertsch. Scores
Bertsch shot a second successive 64 at Buffalo Ridge to lead by four strokes on 14-under from Bernhard Langer, Kenny Perry and Wes Short Jnr.
Elsewhere, Massereene’s Nathan Kernaghan won the Irish Assistants’ PGA Championship at Nuremore Hotel & Country Golf Club. Scores
