Lowry makes positive start in California

Shane Lowry got his 2024 PGA Tour campaign off to a positive start when he made seven birdies in an opening five-under 67 at The American Express in California.

Forced to start the season in the low-scoring pro-am and open his FedEx Cup account after failing to make the top 50 in last season’s standings who are exempt into all the lucrative Signature Events, the Offaly man was tied for 39th,  five shots behind early Zach Johnson and Alex Noren who shot a  10-under 62s at La Quinta.

Playing alongside Jason Day at Quinta Country Club, one of three courses used this week, Lowry started with back-to-back birdies at the 10th and 11th before picking up another shot at the 14th.

He would drop his first shot of the day at the 17th to turn in 33 before remaining on the birdie trail on the way home.

After following another birdie at the first with a bogey at the par-three third, he made back-to-back birdie fours at the fifth and sixth to go five-under for the day before finishing with four par.

On the LPGA Tour, Leona Maguire battled back from three-over after 12 holes to open with a level par 72 in the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona in Florida.

The Co Cavan star (29) birdied the 13th, 14th and 17th to end the day tied for 22nd in the 36-strong field, seven shots behind Japan’s Nasa Hataoka whose 65 gave her a two-shot lead over Sweden’s Maja Stark and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez.