Lowry left frustrated by another Sunday slip-up as Straka wins Truist Championship
Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka walked off the 7th tee box at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on Sunday afternoon and began comparing notes on what they'd got their mams for Mother's Day.
It was confirmation that the two-man final-round showdown for the $20m Truist Championship was very much a friendly face-off.
While the mics picked up talk of flowers, it was also all too obvious what Bridget Lowry would have fancied to mark the Stateside version of Mothering Sunday.
At 38, her son has savoured career milestones. But not too as many glory moments lately. Heading out co-leader with his Ryder Cup teammate from Austria, Lowry was looking for a first solo PGA Tour victory since 2019 and first Stateside solo win in a decade. The timing of a potential triumph, with the season's second major kicking off Thursday at Quail Hollow, was tantalising.
Alas, another struggling Sunday was about Lowry's lot as Straka held his nerve for a steady but far from spectacular two-shot victory over the Offaly man. In keeping with title tilt that mostly foundered on his inability to get the putter going, Lowry three-putted from 20 feet for an ugly bogey on the final hole when a birdie would have forced a playoff. He rubbed his temples as Straka sealed his second win of the season with a par, Lowry perhaps wondering how he'd mustered just a level-par 70 when a 67 would have ended what is, in the wake of Rory McIlroy finally completing his slam, the most agitating run in Irish golf.
The early part of Lowry's week had been much more light-hearted with some very on-brand self-slagging. 'Better to be lucky than good,' he wrote on Friday, sharing footage of a putt on the 11th which hurtled to the hole, hit the back of the cup and somehow spun back in for birdie.
Lucky? Sure. But Lowry has been damn good lately too, the kinda good that makes it easier to make fun of oneself. This week made it 10-straight cuts made since February. In the previous nine events he had seven top-25s, three top 10s and a runner-up spot at the AT&T in Pebble Beach. Now he has another, joint second-place alongside Justin Thomas his lot after the closing bogey.
'I've been like this for the past couple of years. Since the Ryder Cup in Rome, I feel like I've kicked on a little bit and been quite mature,' he said Saturday night. 'I've put a lot into it the last two years, my whole career, but particularly the last two years. Starting to see some rewards is good. Obviously you want trophies, and that's going to be my number one goal [tomorrow].'
For too long now, finishing the job has been a vexing thing. Given his ability and consistency, there should be more pots and pans on the mantlepiece goes a fair argument. In a sit-down with the Examiner last summer, Lowry reflected on sabbath slips.
'When I've a chance to do something on Sunday I'm never happy with anything other than the win,' he said then. 'Even though I don't win loads, I've won enough, a bit in my career. But when you've a chance on a Sunday…'
He had more than a chance in Philadelphia. A late birdie Saturday ensured he went off tied with Straka, three shots clear of Thomas who did do his best to barge into contention.
When Lowry lashed a driving iron down the first fairway a punter near the tee box bellowed 'Go Birds!', the refrain for Philly's beloved NFL Eagles. The Offaly man duly delivered, rolling in a 12-foot birdie putt to take the outright lead on 15 under.
Driving well, Lowry's brilliant scrambling game found him another birdie on the long 5th but Straka's stellar putting helped him to an eagle to leave the pair tied at the top.
When Straka bogeyed the 6th, Lowry was back in front until he bogeyed the 8th and suddenly found himself two back. By the 12th they were level again with Thomas just one more back. Some heart medication may have been the more appropriate Mother's Day gift.
On and on they went. It was compelling without being particularly sparkling. Lowry simply couldn't get the putter working. The duo went shot for shot to an almost bizarre level, both coming up surprisingly short on the long 15th.
Lowry went first and produced a quite gorgeous chip which shaved the hole for eagle. So close to a key moment. In the scorer's tent, TV cameras caught Rory McIlroy putting his hands to his head in frustration for his close friend. The resulting tap-in birdie put Lowry in the lead again but it was all too brief as Straka also birdied. That would be as close as it got.
On the short 16th Lowry tried a fade that didn't fade, only finding a horrible lie in the greenside rough. Another impressive chip gave him a shot of an escape but his par putt agonizingly lipped back around and out. Straka had a one-shot lead and an all-too familiar pain hovered into view.
After driving the ball so well all day, Lowry lashed on wildly wide and towards the fairway hospitality on the 18th but was given a drop. When Straka hit a gem out of the bunker from 200-plus yards back, Lowry was in sudden death mode. He hit his to 20 feet and would have a chance at forcing a play-off. Instead, that dastardly three-putt and a sickening 70. Perhaps he'll take out some frustration on Quail Hollow this week...but for now the wait goes on.
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