Shane Lowry carded a two-under-par 68 on Thursday to open the PGA Championship at Aronimink, putting him just one shot off the lead. But if you think the Irishman was thrilled with his start, think again.

“I was a little bit nervy at the start, to be honest,” Lowry admitted after his round. “I felt uncomfortable out there for a while.”

For a player who has endured a tough 2026 season—with more missed cuts than top-10 finishes—that opening round was a welcome change of fortune. Lowry suffered a brutal collapse at the Cognizant Classic in March, losing his lead over the final three holes, and followed it up with a nightmare final round at The Masters. The struggles have lingered, making Thursday’s performance all the more encouraging.

Despite posting the joint second-best round of the day, Lowry wasn't firing on all cylinders. His driving was off, but his chipping and approach play were dialed in, ranking him inside the top two in the field in those categories. It was a round built on grit and course management rather than pure ball-striking.

“If anything, that discomfort focuses me more,” Lowry explained. “You’re just taking it one shot at a time, staying patient, trying to make birdies when you hit good shots. And if I hit bad shots, I just didn’t get too flustered. I managed my way around the course nicely.”

Starting a major with a 68 while not having your best stuff is a huge positive. For Lowry, it’s a sign that better days could be ahead at Aronimink—if he can build on that gritty opening round and find a bit more comfort as the week progresses.