Shane Lowry shocked the golf world with his incredible 9-under 62 performance during the third round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla. Starting the day eight shots back of the lead, Lowry managed to climb up the leaderboard and finish just one stroke behind the leader. This tied the record for the lowest round and lowest score to par in a major tournament, making him a serious contender for the title. While he narrowly missed out on a chance to shoot a historic 61 with a missed birdie putt on the final hole, Lowry’s performance has put him in a strong position to potentially win his second major championship.
Xander Schauffele had also shot a 62 earlier in the tournament, tying the course record and setting a new record for the lowest score to par in a major round. Lowry’s incredible round on Saturday saw him tie Schauffele, as well as Rickie Fowler and Branden Grace, as the only players to achieve this feat in major tournaments. Despite his disappointment at missing out on a chance to take the lead, Lowry seemed content with his performance and his position heading into the final round of the tournament.
After a strong start that included five birdies in the first five holes, Lowry continued to play consistent golf throughout the rest of the round. With a total of eight birdies and no bogeys on his scorecard, he finished with a 29 on the front nine and continued to build on his strong performance on the back nine. Lowry’s ability to sink long putts, including back-to-back birdies of 37 feet, four inches and 32 feet, six inches, showcased his skill on the greens and his ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Although Lowry’s best finish at the PGA Championship was a tie for fourth in 2021, his lone major victory came at The Open Championship in 2019. With a potential win at Valhalla, he could become the 21st multi-time winner of the PGA Championship and the first since Justin Thomas in 2022. Lowry’s impressive performance during the third round has put him in contention for the title and has set the stage for an exciting final day of competition at the PGA Championship.
In contrast to Lowry’s success, Tiger Woods struggled during the third round and ultimately missed the cut after recording two triple bogeys in a three-hole span. This disappointing performance was in stark contrast to Lowry’s phenomenal round and highlighted the unpredictable nature of professional golf. As the tournament heads into the final round, Lowry’s performance has captured the attention of golf fans and has positioned him as a strong contender for the championship title. With his history-making round and his potential to win his second major championship, Lowry’s performance at Valhalla has solidified his status as a top player on the PGA Tour.
