Easy Ryder for Lowry amid noise

GOLF: Shane Lowry admits the constant noise of Delhi traffic is much easier to handle than an abusive New York Ryder Cup crowd as he rattled off eight birdies to take the lead on the opening day of DP World India Championship.

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The Irishman, playing with European captain Luke Donald and teammate Tommy Fleetwood, hit a hot streak with five successive birdies on the back nine against the background noise of the honks and horns of the capital's incessant road network.

His bogey-free eight-under 64 meant he overtook longtime clubhouse leader Keita Nakajima by a stroke.

“It was a really nice group, playing with Luke and Tommy,” said Lowry, who holed the putt to retain the Ryder Cup at Bethpage. “We all had a great time and we all played pretty good and I just rolled off a few more birdies than they did on the back nine.

“We could hear the horns from the road - it was not as off-putting as the Bethpage crowd.