Lowry all set for tough US Open
Wind to test world’s top golfers on famous course
SHANE Lowry is on the final countdown to one of golf's biggest events. The US Open starts later on Thursday on one of golf's toughest tests in Shinnecock Hills, New York.
Located on Long Island, heavy winds are expected to sweep the course on Thursday and it will it lethal for the best golfers in the world, though the USGA have promised to make adjustments to compensate for this. Slower greens would be one element of this but there is still a fear that there will be carnage very few players able to make sub par.
Lowry has a later tee time of 6.47pm Irish time – he will go out with Joacquin Niemann of Chile and local New Yorker, Alex Smalley and they will have an early tee off in Friday's second round.
It is the third of the four majors. Lowry got into serious contention in the US Masters in Augusta but failed away with a final round 80 as he finished joint 30th. He was joint 44th in the US PGA Championship and will be confident of his chances in Southampton.
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Shinnecock Hills is a links type course in a beautiful setting and should suit Lowry but if the wind is a big factor, it will all be a bit of a lottery, the first requirement will be to make the cut and take it from there.