Heights don't scare Shane Lowry. When he gets to lofty positions on the leaderboard, as he did as an amateur in the Irish Open of 2009 and the Portugal Masters last year for his first tour win as a professional, he found a way to finish the job.
In the third round of the European Tour's flagship tournament, the BMW PGA Championship over the West Course on the Wentworth estate, the 26-year-old did what you're supposed to do on Saturdays. It's not called moving day for nothing, and Lowry shot a fine 69 for 210, six under par, which left him three shots behind 54-hole leader Alejandro Canizares. Bang in contention!
Despite suffering a bogey on the third, Lowry – who needs to break into the world’s top-60 on Monday if he is to get an automatic place in next month’s US Open at Merion and avoid a visit to the international qualifying at Walton Heath – responded with some stunning golf to claim birdies on the sixth, seventh, 12th and 17th holes to get into the thick of contention.
On the Par 5 18th, he salvaged a superb par to keep his momentum going into the final round. There, using a 3-wood off the tee, he pushed the shot and hit a young spectator on the head. The ball rebounded through a bush and came to rest close to trees from where he could only pitch it five yards before laying-up with this third shot.
Demonstrating the excellent shape of his short game, Lowry then hit his approach to 18 inches and rolled in the par saving putt.
“It would have been very sour to come off bogeying the last,” said Lowry, who offered some consolation to the young fan by giving her a signed glove.
Lowry was alone in fifth place after the third round, aware that at least a top-three finish was required to move from his current position of 79th in the world rankings into the top-60 to earn that ticket to Merion.
“I just have to try and put winning out of my head and go out and hit first tee shot and go from there,” said Lowry of his gameplan strategy.
Lee Westwood shot a third round 67 to move into second place with a round to go, with Italian Matteo Manassero and Scotland's Marc Warren in tied-third.
Lowry was the only Irish golfer to shoot in the 60s, with Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley carding a two-under 70. That leaves him on level par entering the final round, with Darren Clarke on the same mark after a level-par 72.
Damien McGrane is a shot further back after also signing for a 72, with Peter Lawrie on two over, again after shooting level par.
