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Shane Lowry shoots 62 in first round, leads in Abu Dhabi

Shane Lowry shot a 62 and leads after the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship.
Credit: Andrew Redington
Shane Lowry of Ireland reacts on the ninth green during Day One of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on January 16, 2019.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Shane Lowry tied the course record with a 10-under 62 Wednesday in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship, an impressive showing for a player who lost his card on the PGA Tour last year.

Lowry rolled in 10 birdies to take a three-stroke lead in the European Tour's first event of 2019, with Louis Oosthuizen in a three-way tie for second place with Mike Lorenzo-Vera and Richard Sterne.

Down to 75th in the rankings and now 3½ years without a win, Lowry is adjusting to life back as a full-time European Tour player after failing to successfully juggle his commitments on both sides of the Atlantic in 2018.

The Irishman said he is reaping the rewards of a lengthy spell of practice in Dubai at the start of the new year after not playing competitively since November.

"I feel good about my game," Lowry said. "It's probably the best preseason I've ever done."

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