Lowry three back as Cognizant set for Monday finish
Shane Lowry made a slow start to his final round
Shane Lowry has his work cut out to end his near five-year PGA TOUR drought after he made a nervous start to his victory bid in the weather delayed Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.
The Clara man went into the final round in a three-way tie for the lead with Austin Eckroat and David Skinns in 13-under at PGA National in West Palm Beach, three clear of Jacob Bridgeman.
But after a three-and-a-half hour weather delay left him twiddling his thumbs all afternoon, the 2019 Open champion played just five holes in one-over par before play was suspended due to fading light, leaving him three shots behind 2021 Walker Cup star Eckroat on 12-under.
Lowry is bidding to follow in the footsteps of Pádraig Harrington, who won the last Cognizant Classic that required a Monday finish, defeating Daniel Berger in a 2015 playoff.
But it will be a major challenge for him when play resumes early today.
The course was lashed by heavy rain from just after midday as South Africa’s. Erik Van Rooyen played his first 11 holes in an incredible eight-under to take the lead, going to the turn in a blistering 28.
When he returned he lost momentum and followed a bogey at the 15th with a birdie at the 17th en route to an eight-under 63 that set the target at 14-under.
Lowry, who has started working with Dr Bob Rotella on his mental game for his putting, looked good early on but missed a nine footer at the first and a 17 footer at the second fior birdies.
He then failed to get up and down from short of the third for his birdie and after a par at the fourth, he pushed a six-iron right of the green at the 193-yard fifth and failed to get up and down.
A bogey there left Lowry tied for fourth with Keith Mitchell (17 holes), Alex Noren (12 holes) and Billy Horschel (17 holes) on 12-under, three shots behind Eckroat (25), who is playing just his 50th PGA TOUR event.
Playing just ahead of Lowry and David Skinns, who was two-over through five holes, Oklahoma native Eckroat birdied the fourth and fifth to lead by a shot on 15-under from Van Rooyen and by three from Mexico Open winner, Jake Knapp, who has just three holes to play.
As for Rory McIlroy, the world number two closed with a bogey-free, three-under 68 to finish tied 16th in the clubhouse on 10-under.
He was ranked first for strokes gained off the tee and for strokes gained from tee to green but 65th for strokes gained putting, leaving him with work to do before this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.
Lowry will resume his final round at 8 am local time (1 pm Irish time) facing a 206-yard approach to the tough sixth from the fairway.
As for Eckroat, who tied for 10th in the US Open last year but is still seeking his maiden PGA Tour win, the 2021 Walker Cup star is happy with the lead.
“I felt like I was a little shaky at the beginning but was able to knock in some pars,” he said. "To get the birdie on four and five was great, and really put myself in a good position for tomorrow.”
He knows he can play well and lose after he led the AT&T Byron Nelson through 54 holes last year and shot a closing 65 only to finish tied for second behind Jason Day, who shot 62,
"Obviously I didn't come out on top, but I played really well,” he said. "Then also there's a lot of guys still in it tomorrow. Kind of how Jason Day was.
"It's not like I'm just trying to beat the guys in the group behind me, and you can see that from guys playing so well today already.”
