McIlroy’s bold strategy gamble has him chasing from behind in India.

Rory McIlroy showed up to the DLF Golf and Country Club with a game plan that raised eyebrows—he’s leaving his driver in the locker room for the entire tournament. It’s a deliberate strategy call on a course where accuracy matters more than distance, but after the opening round, it’s Shane Lowry who’s making it work better. McIlroy’s driverless approach hasn’t translated to the top of the leaderboard, while Lowry fired a opening 65 to take the lead.

Lowry’s Hot Start

While everyone’s talking about what McIlroy left behind, Shane Lowry is quietly doing what he does best—grinding out scores when it matters. The Irishman’s opening round 65 puts him in pole position at the Hero Indian Open, and he’s proving that execution trumps strategy every time. Lowry’s ability to navigate DLF’s tight layout shows that it doesn’t matter what clubs you bring if you can’t hit the shots when it counts.

The No-Driver Gamble

McIlroy’s decision to go without driver for an entire tournament is bold, maybe even brilliant—but only if it works. The move signals his commitment to playing percentage golf on a course that punishes wayward drives. But golf has a way of humbling even the smartest game plans, and right now, Rory’s chasing rather than leading. The question becomes: is this strategic genius or overthinking?

What It Means for the Weekend

Lowry’s lead sets up a fascinating storyline for the rest of the tournament. Can McIlroy’s precision game catch up to players who are executing at a higher level? Or will his no-driver strategy prove to be a liability when he needs to make up ground? The Hero Indian Open is becoming a case study in modern course management versus old-fashioned shot-making.

The Bottom Line

Shane Lowry leads because he’s playing great golf. Rory McIlroy’s driver is staying home because he thinks it’s the smart play. Sometimes the story isn’t about the strategy—it’s about who executes when the pressure’s on. That’s what makes golf beautiful, and it’s what makes this weekend in India worth watching.