Thursday 8 October 2015 19:26, UK
Shane Lowry felt he successfully handled the added pressure of being the top-ranked player after day one of the British Masters.
Lowry, the world No 21, fired a bogey-free five-under-par opening round on Thursday to leave him two shots adrift of overnight leader Matthew Fitzpatrick at Woburn.
The 28-year-old, who was playing as an amateur the last time the British Masters was played in 2008, said he was pleased to have handled the pressure his new ranking beholds.
On being the No 1 ranked player in the tournament, Lowry said: "It puts you under a little bit more pressure than you already are. I spoke with my coach last night and managed to deal with that nicely. Hopefully I can deal with the rest of the week.
"I can pick my schedule whatever way I want, tournaments I feel like I'm going to do well in. It's given me great confidence as well going forward and to win a tournament like this and to shoot this round is part of that."
Lee Slattery ended the day one shot better off than Lowry on six-under-par, carding three consecutive birdies to complete his round.
And the Russian Open winner said his improvements have been down to hard work both on and off the course.
"It's been pure hard work. Not where it's massively hard the past couple of years, but with things off the golf course. I think this year things have settled down massively," said Slattery.
"I have been able to work really, really hard. A lot of great things are happening at home as well. I think that's just been the difference, just hard work. Little kids trying to play the game, that's been the difference."
Slattery was joined on six under by Soren Kjeldsen, who said he was surprised by his lofty position at the end of round one.
"If you asked me 12 months ago whether I would be in this situation, I would probably doubt it very much," said Kjeldsen, who birdied the last to finish on 65.
"Obviously you set your ambitions pretty high, but it's been a terrific season for me, no question about that. I'm just really, really happy and that's why I continue playing."
There was a welcome return to form for three-time major winner Padraig Harrington, who said his improvement on the greens was the main factor behind his round of five-under-par.
"At times, I haven't been putting very well after the last number of years. I putted well today, so that really made the score," said Harrington.
"I can't say I played brilliantly, but I certainly putted nicely and worked my way around the golf course."
Andy Sullivan also enjoyed a bright start at Woburn, entering the clubhouse on four-under-par, three adrift of Fitzpatrick, and the 29-year-old said he is benefiting from a prolonged period of rest from the sport.
"I took a lot of time off after the PGA, I felt like I needed some rest. I played quite a lot of golf. I forced my way into the majors and got top 50," said Sullivan.
"I took five weeks off and I feel really good for it... refreshed and ready to get at it for this one and the final series today."
