US Open: Shane Lowry sets his sights on hunting down birdies

There’s laid back and, well, there’s Shane Lowry. As former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy teed-off from the first tee here in lovely sunshine for a practice round, two of his intended playing partners – Lowry and Graeme McDowell – were nowhere to be found. The Aussie had been stood up, and off he went with no Irish banter to take his mind off the penal examination that lay ahead.

Lowry moseyed on to the practice range an hour or so later; he’d been “delayed” but there was no panic and, sure, he would simply find another slot on the time sheet.

In fairness to Lowry, there’s been nothing lackadaisical about how he has prepared since arriving into Pittsburgh on Sunday. That early arrival even meant missing out on Offaly’s championship match with old rivals Westmeath – which he listened to at Newark Airport – but a chance to get his first glimpse of this famed venue. “It’s fairly brutal,” said Lowry, getting straight to the point.

Lowry managed to get in five holes on Sunday shortly after arriving – playing holes 10 to 14 – and had two attempts at deciphering how to crack the course on Monday, playing nine holes in the morning and then another five after returning from watching Ireland’s opening Euro 2016 match against Sweden.

For this tournament Lowry has added the FAI logo to his Srixon bag to show his support for the Ireland team in France.

Of course, he’ll have other things on his mind in the coming days in what will be his fourth US Open.

Having missed the cut on his debut in 2011 and again in 2014, Lowry contended in Chambers Bay a year ago – playing all four days in black in memory of those killed in the balcony tragedy in Berkeley – where he finished tied-ninth.

Part of the reason for Lowry’s delay in getting to the course yesterday was that he was watching video highlights of Angel Cabrera’s win here in 2007, where the Argentine somehow managed to reel off two birdies on his back nine.

“It is hard to see where you are going to make any birdies,” said Lowry.

Sub-par scores

In seeking a way to combat the “brutal” course, where sub-par scores will be hard to come by, Lowry has opted to remove a five-wood from his bag and to put a two-iron in instead.

That club could become a favoured one this week where strategy off the tee – avoiding the thickest of rough and devilishly positioned bunkers – will require a clear mind.

His aim?

“If you can make two birdies a day you’d be doing well. If you can make 10 for the week you’ll have a chance of winning the tournament.

“You have to keep the double bogeys off your card too... there is a fine line between being too aggressive and not being aggressive enough.

“You need to really approach the golf course with a bit of care. But if you’re too tentative you’re leaving yourself too long approaches and [being left with] 40 footers are not much craic on these greens.

“You just have to stand up and pick your target. I don’t think you can stand there and go, ‘I need to be tentative on this hole’ or ‘I need to be aggressive on this hole’. I think you need to be somewhat aggressive on every hole, and just try and execute the shot then.

“It’s about playing well. You can be in whatever frame of mind you want but if you don’t hit good shots you’re not going to do any good.”

Mr Laid-back just turned Mr Serious.