Seamus Energy overcame Irish-like situations and fired a 3 below 69 to lie only a shot off the lead within the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines.
As Rory McIlroy was compelled to dig deep to shoot a 72 and Shane Lowry fought again from three over after 5 holes on the South Course to publish a 73, Energy carded one among simply three rounds within the sixties.
Bidding for a 3rd PGA Tour win that would catapult him into the Ryder Cup dialog, the West Waterford man (37) battled wind and rain within the first group of the day to share the early lead with enjoying companion Patrick Rodgers.
Denny McCarthy went on to complete birdie-eagle for a 68 and a one-shot lead over Energy and Rodgers, whereas world primary Scottie Scheffler chiselled out a 70 to share fourth.
“It is simply powerful, no let up,” Energy mentioned after getting up and down from sand for a closing par 5 after following a bogey on the second with birdies on the sixth, ninth, fifteenth and seventeenth.
“It’s good to get in there within the 60s.”
It was solely Energy’s second sub par rating in six journeys across the feared South Course, which he says he prefers to the simpler North Course.
After lacking the reduce in all 5 appearances within the Farmers Insurance coverage Open, the place they use each programs, he was happy that the venue change from Riviera to Torrey Pines as a result of Los Angeles wildfires close to Los Angeles’ meant tackling only one course.
“I’ve at all times preferred the South course,” he mentioned. “The North Course, I’ve struggled extra on, and that is usually the alternative of fellows within the event right here.
“One 12 months, I shot possibly three below within the first spherical on the South and shot a really poor one on the North. So I used to be delighted to see it was simply the South.”
Whereas he dropped an early shot after tangling with the tough on the second, he made two sensible birdie fours on the sixth and ninth.
Compelled to put up from the thick tough each instances, he hit a 146-yard strategy to 2 ft on the sixth, adopted by a 130-yard third to 6 ft on the ninth to show in one-under
After making a ten footer on the fifteenth, he hit a wedge to 2 and a half ft on the seventeenth after which scrambled a par 5 from 5 ft on the final after hacking out of heavy tough and placing his 175 yard third into sand.
As a Las Vegas resident, Energy performs little bad-weather golf nowadays however he knew how you can keep upbeat within the situations on the uncovered bluffs north of San Diego.
“It has been a very long time, clearly, since I’ve performed lots of golf in Eire, however I feel the mentality turns into the most important factor,” Energy mentioned.
“It is fairly simple to get down and get a bit like mad at every little thing and situations and every little thing is difficult there at present.
“You’ve one way or the other obtained to maintain your hold your head in it and keep constructive one way or the other, and, type of get via it.
“It is not going to be simple for anybody on the market, and also you’re attempting to remain dry, you are attempting to remain heat, and also you’re attempting to hold in there as finest you’ll be able to.
“It has been very long time since I performed golf in these situations however you already know it should be a troublesome at present and tomorrow, in all probability all 4 days, actually.
“ what’s coming; there is no actual let up. You simply gotta hit some good photographs. And that is the fantastic thing about this golf course. It is proper there in entrance of you, however you do should hit lots of good photographs in a row, and it is, it should check each a part of your recreation.”
Ranked 124th on the planet and with no main begins or signature occasions secured past this week thus far, he is aware of making Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup workforce is an extended shot.
However he feels he can have an opportunity if he can win an occasion and make the season-ending Tour Championship for the highest 30 within the FedExCup.
“Yeah, I imply, realistically for me, I’ve obtained to win a minimum of one time,” Energy mentioned.
“However I really feel like in case you get a number of wins and get all the way in which to Atlanta, you already know it should be more durable for him to not choose you.
“So I imply, that is going to be my aim. I really feel if I attain lots of my very own issues that I need to do, I really feel like issues like that can fall into place.”
McIlroy began on the again 9 and three-putted the eleventh from 82 ft.
However he made a 12-footer on the 18th to show in stage par, then adopted a dropped shot on the first with some outstanding quick gameplay.
He virtually holed his 88-yard third to salvage par on the fifth, then chipped in for a birdie two on the eighth to open with a 72 that left him joint 14th.
Lowry’s quick recreation was key as he recovered from three bogeys in a row at his third, fourth and fifth holes to shoot a 73 that left him joint twentieth.
Scheffler additionally performed effectively, embracing the situations to shoot 70 and share fourth with Davis Thompson and Wyndham Clark.
“I feel it is fascinating,” Scheffler mentioned. “The one different time we see climate like this may be The Open Championship and, I suppose, after I follow in Dallas.
“Total, I feel it is enjoyable, it is a totally different check, and I like the variability.”
