Offaly man makes nine single putts in a row on the back nine to give himself some breathing room heading into final round
Shane Lowry produced an otherworldly putting performance to take a four-shot lead into the final round of the Amgen Irish Open at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg.
The 2009 champion (39) is seeking his first individual win for four years and a big Ryder Cup qualifying boost after a series of disappointing near misses earlier this season.
Nothing brings more happiness than a long walk with the putter, and nine single putts in a row, and 10 in 11 holes from the eighth, helped the Offaly man card a five-under 65 to lead by four strokes from Danish left-hander Jacob Skov Olesen and seven from Chile’s Joaquin Niemann on 16-under par.
It was a thrilling performance on a bizarre day when play was halted for about five minutes as US president Donald Trump touched down in the Marine One chopper as Lowry played the third hole.
The former Open champion began the day three shots clear of the field and never looked flustered as he birdied the first and fourth, then bogeyed the fifth to lead by two before being caught briefly when Olesen eagled the eighth from 30 feet.
Lowry responded to his playing partner by making a 12-footer for birdie to regain his lead, and while the Dane birdied the ninth to tie again, Lowry thrilled the 17,000-strong crowd with his response.
After making a four-footer for birdie at the 10th, he saved par from eight feet at the 11th, rapped in another eight-foot birdie at the 12th, and followed that with a clenched-fist celebration as yet another eight-footer dropped for par at the 13th to remain two clear.
He was soon three clear after a wedge to three feet at the 15th. , but there was more magic to come.
On the 16th, he missed the green but made the six-footer for par before brushing in a 13-footer for another par on the 17th after finding trouble from the tee.
Still, there was more drama to come and after getting a drop away from the grandstand at the 18th, he chipped to five feet and finished with an excellent par as nearest challenger Olesen three-putted from close range for a bogey.
“Any time you play links golf in 15-20mph winds, you’ve got a little cold at the end there; it’s going to be hard, and you’re going to have some testers for pars,” Lowry said.
“I felt like I did a great job today of just staying in the moment and playing my own game, and yeah, I had so much fun out there in the back nine.
“The crowds are incredible, and they cheered me on the whole way home. And hopefully they’ll do the same tomorrow.”
Tom McKibbin dropped two shots in his last four holes for a 69 that left him joint fourth on seven-under.
“I’m definitely looking to go as low as possible tomorrow and finish off a very good week,” he said.
As for Rory McIlroy, his title chances evaporated when he turned in six-over 40 and signed for a 74 that left him 50th on two-over.
The Masters champion lost a ball at the third as Air Force One flew low over the course, but followed a birdie on the fourth with a bogey on the fifth and another double-bogey on the sixth.
“Yeah, two doubles in the first six holes wasn’t the way I wanted to start it, obviously,” said McIlroy, who planned to join president Trump at a small dinner party later.
“A couple of wayward drives. I took a chance on three trying to hit driver there and get it close to the green and hit it out of bounds or lost ball, either/or. Then same thing on six.”
As for the presidential arrival, he said: “Yeah, I mean, quite the, um, I guess not the experience we’re used to in a way.”
It didn’t cause him to lose his ball at the third, that’s for sure.
“I don’t see what a plane at 10,000 feet has got to do with looking for a ball on the ground,” he said with a quizzical look.
“It’s Air Force One’s maiden voyage, I think. So that was pretty cool to see all that going on. I was trying to avoid making doubles at that point, so I was trying to concentrate on my own stuff as well.”
As for Lowry’s title bid, he’s wishing him well.
“Absolutely, I think there’s a great buzz around the tournament because Shane’s up there and leading. So hopefully he keeps it going; that would be great for Irish golf.”
Galway’s Liam Nolan carded a second successive two-under 68 to go into the final round tied for 26th on two-under par on his Irish Open debut.
“Making a cut, getting to play four rounds at my first Irish Open is pretty special,” he said, revealing that he used tricks to handle nerves and avoid distractions, including smiling and keeping his head down.
“I’d say I look stupid, but sure, it’s working. I’m happy I was able to play some good golf today and get my name up there a bit closer to the top of the leaderboard.
“I’ve kept my head down all week. Just keep looking forward and not off to the sides, especially today when the president came in with the choppers.
“It was easy to get distracted, stand off a few shots, but if you just keep your head facing down and just keep walking, you limit all those distractions.”