Lowry Graced with PGA Card

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Shane Lowry and Branden Grace have accepted special temporary membership of the PGA Tour for the remainder of the 2015 season.

The European Tour regulars, along with Australian youngster Cameron Smith, secured the privilege courtesy of their high finishes in the US Open at Chambers Bay.

Irishman Lowry finished in a tie for ninth, five places behind South African Grace, who went into the final day in a tie for the lead but finished the tournament fourth after closing with a one-over 71.

They have all earned more non-member FedEx Cup points than the total of the player who finished 150th on the list in 2014.

England's Danny Willett and up and coming United States player Patrick Rodgers also secured invites in similar fashion earlier in the season.

They are now eligible for unlimited sponsor exemptions for the remainder of the Tour season as they attempt to earn 2015-16 cards through the non-member money list or non-member FedExCup points list.

Special temporary members are not eligible for the FedExCup play-offs, but they can become regular PGA Tour members by winning an official event during the season and would then have their FedExCup points counted and be eligible for post-season play.

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GMAC with Every Chance

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Graeme McDowell and America’s Matt Every shared the lead after the first round of the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head, with Jordan Spieth eight shots off the pace as he came back to earth following his Masters win.

In difficult conditions, with strong winds and a distinct chill in South Carolina, birdies were hard to come by but Every carded six before a bogey on the 18th, while McDowell matched him only in reverse after bogeying the first.

Given the way the course was playing, staying at the top of the leaderboard was as much about survival as anything.

“I was greasy today,” Every said on the PGA Tour website. “It wasn’t my best ball striking, it wasn’t easy out there, but I got the best out of it.

“It was blowing. Back in the trees, when it’s coming from the north and banking off the trees going the other way, it’s dicey, but for the most part I did a good job.”

Sang-moon Bae is alone in third place, one shot back, ahead of a five-way tie for fourth which includes Kevin Kisner, Scott Langley, Morgan Hoffman, Matt Kuchar and up and coming Australian Cameron Smith.

Smith could have been much better placed but for a bogey on the third and a double bogey on the seventh, where his tee shot put him in the trees and he faced a long road back. He had earlier carded five birdies in six holes between the second and seventh holes.

Kuchar’s round was highlighted by a 35ft putt for birdie on the par-five 15th, which was the only hole on which his playing partner Spieth enjoyed any luck.

Appearing tired after a whirlwind week of interviews and appearances which meant he did not have time for a practice round, Spieth three-putted the sixth to drop his first shot of the day and looked lethargic as he missed birdie opportunities on the ninth and 10th greens.

He dropped another shot on the 11th and on the par-three 14th he sent his tee shot straight into the water, setting up a double bogey that put him four over par.

He pulled one back with a birdie on the par-five 15th, but already appears set for a much-needed weekend off.

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Clarke Trails Leading Duo

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Darren Clarke carded a one under par first round 69 at the McGladrey Classic in Georgia on Thursday, to remain six strokes off the leaders Briny Baird and Brian.

The duo both fired opening-round 63's to sit seven under after fog had delayed play by almost two hours in the morning.

Former US Open champion Webb Simpson was one of three players two shots back alongside fellow American Kevin Kisner and South Korean Seung-yul Noh.

Baird has not recorded a win in his previous 364 appearances on Tour but could break that duck this week after a stunning start at Sea Island.

The 41-year-old recorded a flawless round as he birdied the second, third and fourth holes before hitting another hot streak at the end of his day with further birdies at 14, 15, 16 and 17.

Gay did have a blemish on his card as he dropped a shot on the 12th but he countered that with eight birdies in calm conditions.

Simpson, Noh and Kisner were two behind after firing rounds of 65 and there was a large group behind them on four under including Jonathan Byrd andCamilo Villegas.

Will MacKenzie was the best of the afternoon starters as he sat four under after six holes with former Masters champion Trevor Immelman a further shot back through eight.

Major champions YE Yang, Retief Goosen and Ben Curtis were all on two under having completed their rounds while defending champion Tommy Gainey was level par through four holes.

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