Shane Lowry was forced to drive an hour away to a shop after breaking his putter during his opening round at The CJ Cup.
The Offaly man broke his putter on the ninth hole, but it wasn't enough to hamper his round as he shot a bogey-free three-under-par round of 68 at Congaree Golf Club in South Carolina.
However, Lowry was forced to drive an hour away to Bluffton and the closest PGA Superstore after his round to pick up a replacement, a 35-inch Odyssey White Hot OG 2-ball putter, which he paid $229 for.
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy off to good start in CJ Cup title defence
The 2019 Open champion tweeted: "Accidentally broke my putter on the 9th hole today…Hour drive to get a replacement. Thanks to the staff at the PGA Tour Superstore in Bluffton for their help."
When asked how he managed to accidentally break the club, Lowry replied: "Long story but was an accident."
The 35-year-old is three shots off the lead going into the second round, while Rory McIlroy finished one shot behind the lead.
McIlroy ended the day on 66, while Gary Woodland and Trey Mullinax shared the lead with a 65.
Mullinax and Woodland both ran off three birdies early. Mullinax already was seven under through 12 holes when his birdies dried up.
Woodland finished with two birdies.
South Korea’s Tom Kim went birdie-for-birdie with McIlroy for much of the day, with the 20-year-old ultimately finishing on 67, one shot behind the Hollywood man.
McIlroy was ranked 14th in the world before his victory in Las Vegas last year, but has since recorded two further wins and 12 other top-10 finishes to get within striking distance of world number one Scottie Scheffler.
Scheffler tried to hold off McIlroy, switching putters but had two birdies and two bogeys for a 71.
Rickie Fowler, who had the 54-hole lead in Japan last week, fell back early when he four-putted from 20 feet on the fourth hole. He had a 74.
Waterford's Seamus Power also had a good opening round, finding himself just two shots off the lead going into Friday after an opening round 67.
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