Lowry just four behind on packed RBC Canadian Open leaderboard
Shane Lowry hits his tee shot on the 10th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America)
Shane Lowry might not have had his A-game, but he still carded a two-under 68 to keep his hopes of victory alive in the RBC Canadian Open.
The world number 12 missed just two greens in regulation, a major requirement in next week’s US Open, as he made three birdies and a lone bogey to share 16th on 10-under in Toronto.
He's just four strokes behind Italy’s Matteo Manassero and New Zealander, who shot six-under 64s on Saturday to share the third-round lead.
Manassero fought back from a three-putt bogey on the 17th with a birdie on the par-5 18th to get to 14-under on the North Course at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.
“I missed the short one on 17, and I did miss a couple more short ones today,” Manassero said after hitting his 80-yard third to two feet at the last.
“I try to think of them just like a shot, really, like a driver, like a six-iron, whatever.
“It’s just a shot. So I don’t want it to get in my head, and I don’t want that to ruin anything or my attitude going towards the next shots.”
Seeking his first win on the PGA Tour, Manaserro (32) overcame a severe slump to win back his DP
World Tour card and earn dual membership of the US circuit.
“I try to get a good attitude, a good thought process, talk well to myself,” he said. “Very basic things.
“I’ve matured a lot and I have a better perspective towards, for example, a day like tomorrow."
Powerful hitter Fox (38) also birdied the 18th as he bids to add to his maiden win following a playoff in the Myrtle Beach Classic last month.
“To be honest, everything went pretty right,” Fox said. “I drove it great. I think if you do that round here, you give yourself lots of chances.
“Had a lot of good wedge shots, holed a few putts early. Just played really solid kind of stress-free golf for the most part.”
The top 28 on the leaderboard are covered by just five strokes.
Lee Hodges and Kevin Yu shot 63 and Matt McCarty a 64 trail the leaders by just one stroke behind on 13-under.
Canadian Mackenzie Hughes (64) was 12-under with Jake Knapp (66) and Andrew Putnam (68).
“I’ve been putting the ball in play quite a bit, driving it pretty nice,” Hughes said. “I feel like that’s taken some pressure off the putter and the short game. It’s a big key around here. You start driving it well, you can attack and be aggressive.”
Another Canadian, Nick Taylor, the 2023 winner, eagled the 18th for a 69 to join a nine-man group on 10-under alongside the likes of Lowry and compatriot Adam Hadwin (65) and Taylor Pendrith (67).
