It took something special to shift the conversation about this PGA Championship away from Scotty Scheffler’s contact with the Louisville Police Department. The world No. 1 player has been cleared for the last three days, which is understandable given the tensions surrounding four charges, including one for assaulting a police officer.
Shane Lowry took it upon himself to create a fresh and uplifting story. The Irishman stood on the 18th green at Valhalla and made a potentially history-making 11-foot, 6-inch putt. If he had found the bottom of the cup on his birdie attempt, he would have become the first player in major history to shoot a 61.
For the first time that day, Lowry’s ball refused to cooperate. The 2019 British Open winner had to settle for just fifth place with a 62 in one of golf’s four major events. Lowry’s reaction when the ball went just wide to his left showed he was well aware of what was in his hands.
“Probably the most disappointing of all the guys who hit 62,” he said. “I knew what was at stake. He’s 29 years old and he goes out there and you think, ‘Wow, this is going to be a fun day.’ There are 10, so it’s a pretty easy par 5 to get. I think when he holed the putt on the 14th he thought, “Okay, this is a good chance.”
“But the 15th is a tricky hole and the 16th is a tough hole. I felt like I played very well. Of course I was aiming for birdie 17, but at that moment I really wanted to hit a good tee shot at the last. I thought, ‘I pushed it a little bit and hit a nice wedge shot, but obviously I missed the putt.’ Well, it’s been in my head since I was about 14 years old.” Laurie’s smile continued. “I actually shot 60 before. I had a putt for 59 and I couldn’t make it.”
Lowry’s putting was superb until the end. On No. 13, he had a remarkable moment with a birdie from 37 feet. There was also a heroic moment on the 10th, where the world No. 43 saved par surprisingly well after his shot into the bunker rolled into the hole created by the pitch.
To put things into perspective, at 13 under par, he’s in a pretty good position to win his second major title. “I felt all season long that if I could warm up my putter, I could be dangerous,” he says. “I’ve been saying that all along. He’s in the final group tomorrow and has a chance in this tournament. I think he’ll be in a good position.” With 18 holes left, his 15-under-par run from Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele gives him a one-point lead over Sahis Teegala.
Justin Rose, who was made to look normal at 64 in Lowry’s company, knew exactly what was going on with his playing partner. “I said to my caddy, ‘He needs two birdies on the last four holes here.'” So he obviously made a great birdie on the 17th, but unfortunately on the 18th. I missed the fairway on my turn. But I knew exactly what I was looking at, let’s see. ” The 2013 U.S. Open champion is one spot away from Lowry’s 54-hole record.
Scheffler’s disastrous start to day three thankfully only had to do with his golf. He made double bogey on No. 2, but made more shots on the next two holes.
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The Masters champion rebounded slightly after that, but by the time he bogeyed the 14th hole, he was at +3 for the day. There are too many top players currently sitting between the Texans and the top of the leaderboard. Unless something miraculous happens, Valhalla is a rather accessible place in the state, but Scheffler is playing for that spot.
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Rory McIlroy posted a disappointing 68. Rory McIlroy, the world No. 2 and two-time PGA Tour winner, made four consecutive birdies starting at No. 7 and was within striking distance of the lead. Subsequent chances were missed, but the Northern Irishman dropped shots on the 14th and 16th, and the loss looked to be even greater.
“There was a six- or seven-hole stretch there where my putter got cold,” McIlroy said. “Depending on how things go tomorrow, if I look back on the tournament, I might regret that stretch where I couldn’t hole a putt.I had really good putts on Thursday, but the last few days I’ve let my putter give up on me. It feels like.”
