Lowry seeks Masters bounce back as Harrington chases Senior PGA
Shane Lowry has every reason to be hopeful at the RBC Heritage as he bids to get back on the horse after suffering another painful fall at the Masters.
The Offaly man said last week that he’d never left Augusta National feeling anything but miserable, even in 2022 when he finished third behind Scottie Scheffler.
He was lying fourth behind Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young heading into the final round on Sunday, but crashed to an 80 to finish tied 30th, just 12 months after slithering from fifth to 42nd with a closing 81.
Having hit more greens in regulation than anyone bar Sam Burns over the first three days last week, he beat just four players in that department in the final round and must now re-group and find a way to get rewarded in this week’s $20 million signature event.
Three times Lowry’s been in a position to win on Sunday this year, and after suffering at third disappointment, Harbour Town Golf Links might be the venue that rewards him at last, given that he’s twice finished tied third there.
The problem will not only be overcoming his Masters hangover, but also getting past world number one Scottie Scheffler, who showed with his bogey-free weekend and eventual runner-up finish at Augusta National that he’s in the mood to repeat his 2022 victory.
With Cameron Young, Tommy Fleetwood, Russell Henley, Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and JJ. Spaun also teeing it up, Masters champion Rory McIlroy and world number four Justin Rose are the only absentees from the world’s top 10.
It will also be a demanding week mentally for Padraig Harrington in the Senior PGA Championship at The Concession in Florida, where Angel Cabrera defends.
The Dubliner was joint second, a shot behind the Argentinian last year in a championship where he lost out in a play-off to Stewart Cink three years ago.
The course will not reward his distance advantage, but he has other strengths that could make the difference at a venue where severe run-offs will play a key role.
“I think this would be a very strong week for the mental game, both in decision-making and in acceptance of the outcome,” Harrington said. “It's not that the chip shots are impossible. It's just that if you take them on, you could end up back at your feet.
“It's going to be a strong test mentally this week, no doubt about it.”
Meanwhile, Leona Maguire will be keen to build on her recent tie for second in the Aramco Championship at the JM Eagle LA Championship ahead of next week’s opening Major, the Chevron Championship.
She’s joined in Los Angeles by LPGA rookie Lauren Walsh, while on the Ladies European Tour, Anna Foster, Aine Donegan and Olivia Mehaffey tee it up in the Joburg Ladies Open at Randpark.
