Lowry six strokes back as Hovland leads in RBC Heritage

Viktor Hovland has taken the early lead at the RBC Heritage at the Harbour Town Links, while Shane Lowry sits six strokes adrift after an opening 70.

Seamus Power, however, has plummeted out of the running with a six-over round of 77.

Midway through the first round in South Carolina, Hovland leads after an opening 64, the Norwegian registering seven birdies in a blemish-free round.

He leads by one stroke from Brian Harmon, who sits on six-under par. One stroke further back is a group containing US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, Joel Dahmen, Zach Johnson and Scott Stallings.

Masters champion Jon Rahm is currently one-under par early in his round, at the time of writing.

Lowry concluded his opening round with a birdie on the par-4 9th. The 2019 Open Champion - who finished tied-16th at the Masters last week - registered 15 pars on his Thursday round, with a birdie on the 13th and then a bogey on 6.

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The Offaly man has a colourful history in the RBC Heritage, leading at one stage on the back nine on Sunday before a double-bogey at the par-3 14th scuppered his chances. He eventually finished tied-3rd, one stroke adrift of the playoff, which was eventually won by Jordan Spieth.

Power sits near the foot of the field after a tough opening 77, his round concluding with an unsightly triple bogey 7 on the 18th. He had previously recorded five bogeys, with only two birdies on the 2nd and 17th holes.