The gang’s back together, and the post-Ryder Cup party is rolling into Delhi with some real flair and a few surprises off the tee. Rory McIlroy, fresh off the champagne-drenched celebration of Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph, made a cautious yet steady return to tournament golf with a three-under 69 at the DP World India Championship. But it was Shane Lowry who lit up the leaderboard like Diwali fireworks.
Lowry Goes Nuclear on the Back Nine
Let’s talk about the man who didn’t hold back—Shane Lowry. The Irishman turned in a sizzling 64, bogey-free, with eight birdies total and five in a row between holes 11 and 15 that had the gallery buzzing. Remember, this is the same guy whose ice-cold putt at Bethpage Black helped slam the Ryder Cup door in Team USA’s face. And now? He’s back at it, leading the charge in India and clearly not ready to slow down.
And the company he kept? Just a couple of newly minted Ryder Cup legends—Tommy Fleetwood and Captain Luke Donald. Fleetwood threw in a bunker hole-out eagle at 14 while Donald quietly kept pace with a tidy 68. All three capped the round with birdies on 18—after a stray dog wandered onto the green, delaying their putts and causing a few chuckles. Golf is rarely dull when this crew’s involved.
Rory McIlroy Plays It Safe, But Stays in the Hunt
Now over to Rory, who left his driver in the locker. “I just don’t see any hole out there that I have to hit it more than 260, 270 yards,” he said, sounding more like a tactician than a firecracker. And it sort of worked—six birdies, three bogeys, and a cautious vibe all around. He picked up strokes with some sharp short-game work, including a chip-in at 10 and a birdie on 18, but gave a few back, too—particularly with a bogey at the 522-yard 8th that left him shaking his head.
Still, McIlroy’s just five back, and as he’s proven time and again, he can heat up quickly—especially on a course like this, which he admitted played “a little tougher than expected.” Hole locations were sneaky, pins were tucked, and Rory was clearly trying to avoid disaster early.
Fleetwood, Griffin, and Hovland Keep It Tight in the Top 10
Fleetwood’s heroics weren’t the only highlights. He and Donald both finished four-under, sliding into a share of seventh. America’s Ben Griffin—a bit of a wildcard in this field—joined them there with a slick 68 of his own. As for Viktor Hovland? The Norwegian is still shaking off the rust after missing the Ryder Cup Sunday due to a neck injury. His one-under 71 wasn’t headline-worthy, but it’s a solid step in the right direction.
So where does that leave us? Day one is in the books, and the European squad is flexing hard—even in India. Lowry’s cruising, Rory’s lurking, and the Ryder Cup crew look anything but tired. If this pace keeps up, we’re in for a fireworks show all weekend long.
