A SOLID START by Ireland’s Shane Lowry leaves him five shots off the pace after the first 18 holes at the Phoenix Open.
The Offaly man bogeyed the first, before hitting three birdies in the next four holes on the way to recording a 69 at the TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course.
Matt Kuchar shot -7 and holds a one-stroke lead over Hideki Matsuyama and Brendan Steele.
Padraig Harrington finds himself one over after a 72 where he bogeyed the sixth and 12th, but managed a birdie on 13.
American Kuchar was flawless as he took charge after the opening round.
A lot of eyes are on Dubai this week to watch Tiger Woods’ second attempt at a comeback, but the PGA Tour is partying in Arizona thanks to Kuchar and Co.
With the stadium atmosphere in place on the famed par-three 16th hole, the Phoenix Open has become golf’s most entertaining event of the season.
The seven-time PGA Tour champion played his last six holes in four under after birdieing his first two holes of the day.
Red-hot Matsuyama, who has four wins and two runner-up finishes in his last eight starts and is defending his title this week, posted a blemish-free 65.
Steele also shot a six under after starting out seven under through his first 10 holes.
Chris Kirk is among five players tied at five under.
Big names such as Rickie Fowler, Brooks Koepka, Steve Stricker and J.B. Holmes had 67s.
Phil Mickelson got off to a hot start, but he stalled in a three-under 68.
Justin Thomas, who has already won three times this season and shot a 59, finished with a 69 after a rocky start. He rebounded with birdies on three of his last six holes.
Additional reporting by Kevin O’Brien
Same old Mayo. Kicking deplorable wides, dominating at times but not making it count, zero composure, gifting the opposition a goal – and then a moan about the referee.
@Aidan Farrell: Not even wides a lot of the time, but feeble little under-10 shots that the keeper could catch with his chest.
It all sounds like sour grapes. He made reference to the tackle count of 13-1. Well deserved. Fortunate not to be more in kerrys favour. Also, that mayo are 1 of the best defensive teams in the country, so why present “pictures” to the referee? Horse manure talk. He never mentioned the punch to the back of the head that O Donoghue gave Geaney @ the end and never said it was an advertisement to never watch garlic football again. Needless to say, I’m not from mayo.
@Diarmuid Concannon: I’d tend to agree. Clifford was man handled every time he got the ball, and indeed, on many occasions when he didn’t even have the ball. In fact, I think the referee was very generous to the mayo defence not to flash a yellow sooner than the 67th minute.
@Diarmuid Concannon: a bit of a double entendres there where people are moaning about someone moaning, quiet funny when one thinks about it.
@Diarmuid Concannon: foul on Geaney was nasty
It’s great when a manager speaks his mind and not going with the scripted robotic drab that most managers and players give to the media these days in case social medial warriors come out in force to condemn what they say. Fair dues Kevin, and I think there’s a lot of truth in what he said too.
Ridiculous comments by McStay. The defenders simply could not handle Clifford. The man handling was ridiculous. Clifford missed several scoring attempts, but Mayo’s defence was very poor.
@Aidan Cullinane: mayo were never going to win the league final day always find a way to lose how many finals now
David Clifford is a modern day great. Meanwhile Kevin McStay is an extremely sore loser. Always has been. To say a player “can’t always be out in front” as a team manager in todays game tells you all you need to know about the level he should be at
Poor old mayo not good enough as usual when it matters end of !
Yes Kevin, do have a good luck at how your team tries to tackle, and have a look at Aiden O Shea who wasn’t ticked for any of his attempts, your better off learning how to tackle a player, show your team and stop moaning
When Tipp u21 complained about Referee in all Ireland a couple of years ago McStay said they were whining little apples
Army Cadet.
St Clifford got it easy today deliberately blocked keepers quick kick out, a yellow for most mere motals then hit the keeper with a late match-ending tackle a definite yellow, but not even a card , a very poor days refereeing by Coldrick.
@Paul Kelly: That was a yellow card so therefore a free to Kerry. Unnecessary and daft from the Mayo keeper. Per rule you can shoulder a player without the ball provided you’re both going in the direction of the ball. Clifford was not going in the direction of the ball.
Mayo would want to start kicking the ball, stop playing basketball around the D area and stop being afraid to shoot when in a scoring position. It’s scores that win matches not possession.
Absolutely comical watching these Mayo handballers taking free kicks from the hand from relatively easy scoring positions and kicking wide. No football skills or football brains in that Mayo side whatsoever. My advice to the Mayo setup would be to go and watch a few games of school boys or school girls soccer matches and learn how free kicks are taken properly with a round ball.
@Leonard Barry: No need to watch soccer just watch D & P Clifford or S O’Shea. If they don’t like watching Kerry try Sam Mulroy or Con O’Callaghan
@Leonard Barry: Like a good man will you explain what exactly soccer has to do with gaelic football and while your at it give us the name of the team you are guiding with your football brains and skills,probably a boy’s or girl’s school soccer team