Lowry chipper: “Six and seven are just Brucie bonuses really”

Shane Lowry chipped in twice in a row to surge into contention for the Cognizant Classic in Florida.

The Offaly man (37) lost nearly two shots to the field on the greens at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens.

But he made up for it with a short game masterclass, holing a 40-yard pitch at the tough sixth (his 15th) to get to two-under for his round before holing a flop shot from deep rough at the 208-yard seventh en route to a three-under 68.

“I sort of felt like today any time I hit a good shot, I missed the putt and anytime I hit a bad shot, I chipped in,” grinned Lowry, who was tied for fifth on eight-under, four shots behind Jake Knapp, who opened with a magical 59.

“I mean, six and seven are just Brucie bonuses, really. You’re probably hoping to make par on six and seven and maybe give yourself a chance on eight or nine.

“To chip in there on those two holes was definitely a bonus.

“I nearly chipped in on five too. I lipped out on five with a chip. So I felt good.  I like it. You know, I see my way around this place.”

Lowry didn’t feel comfortable with his game at a course where he has racked up top five finishes in his last three starts.

But he’s hoping a short evening practice session will allow him to chase down the leaders at a venue he believes will only play tougher as the greens firm up.

“I don't feel I'm 100pc comfortable in my game,” said Lowry, who gained 3.5 shots on the field around the greens to rank second but was well below his best from tee to green.  

“I felt bad yesterday, and then I went and hit some balls and range, and it didn't feel good, and it didn't feel good this morning,” said Lowry, who opened with a five-under 66 after playing his last three holes in one-over.

“But you know, I would say I was mentally very good. I played the game very well. I got my way around the course.  

“Yes, I didn't hit the ball as well as I would have liked. But eight-under for two rounds around here is pretty good, even though the leader is a decent ways ahead there’s a lot of golf to play this weekend.  

“The course is firming up, and I will firm up as the week goes on, and it won't be as easy. So I'm very happy with my position.  

“I'm going to take a couple of hours now, and I probably go out late afternoon where I live, and I might hit hit balls for half an hour, just to try and get a good feeling on into the weekend.”

While it was a good day for Lowry, Séamus Power will have the weekend off after he made four birdies, three bogeys and a double-bogey at the 15th (his sixth) in a one-over 72 to finish three shots outside the projected cut line on one-under.