Shane Lowry struggles to birdie-free 75 in Madrid

Shane Lowry struggled to a birdie-free 75 to sit well off the pace after the first round of the Open de Espana in Madrid.

Lowry, who said beforehand that his target from his four remaining events in 2024 was to secure his first solo win of the season, registered bogeys on two of his opening three holes at the 10th and 12th, dropping another stroke on the 17th to reach the turn on three-over par.

Alongside missing numerous birdie opporunities on his inward nine, including a five-footer on the seventh, the 2019 Open champion tossed in another bogey following a loose approach on the par-4 sixth.

He currently sits in tied-67th on four over, eight strokes behind tournament leader, France's Julien Guerrier, at four under after posting 67.

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The Frenchman leads home favourite Adri Arnaus, who is safely in the clubhouse after an opening three-under par 68.

Tommy Fleetwood, David Puig and Grant Forrest are one stroke further adrift on two-under par.

There are currently only 14 players under par at the Club de Campo Villa, which was the site of Padraig Harrington's first European Tour win in 1996.

Lowry has enjoyed a decent 2024 up to this point, recording seven top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour, including two at the majors in the PGA Championship and the Open Championship. His sole victory - a first win since the 2022 BMW Championship in Wentworth - came alongside Rory McIlroy in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event in late April.