Shane Lowry's Stellar Start at the British Open

Shane Lowry expressed satisfaction with his initial round of 66 at the British Open, signaling his potential to reclaim the Claret Jug. Notable for his bogey-free round, Lowry stayed composed amid windy conditions, attributing his solid performance to prior course experience and effective putting.

Shane Lowry declared himself pleased with an opening 66 at the British Open on Thursday, knowing he needs three more strong rounds to claim the Claret Jug again. The fans at Royal Troon burst into applause when the Irishman birdied his final hole, reminiscent of his victory march at Royal Portrush five years ago when he secured his first major title.

"I'm pretty happy, but it's only one day," Lowry told reporters after his five-under round left him second, one shot behind England's Daniel Brown. "We've got three more days. I kept telling myself that out there because the crowd felt like they were getting very excited... it felt more like the weekend.

"I just kept on telling myself there's a lot more to do and there's a few days left, so I just kind of stayed in my lane and hit some good shots. I was pretty happy with how I handled myself." While strong winds challenged many top players, Lowry credited his previous familiarity with the course layout for helping him manage the conditions.

"Fortunately, I came here two weeks ago and played in similar wind conditions. I saw the golf course in every possible wind." he explained. "That preparation seems to be paying off today."

According to Lowry, the fundamentals of the game remain the same regardless of weather. "If you're not striking the ball well, you're not going to control your ball," he said. Lowry's effective putting led to five birdies, and he noted his quick adjustment to the European greens after playing in the U.S. PGA Tour. "My speed control was very good, and I saw my lines well," he noted. "It feels like links greens when you start to see your lines, the hole feels quite big."

(With inputs from agencies.)