Shane Lowry completed his opening tournament of 2015 with an impressive closing 68 at Torrey Pines on Sunday to earn his first top-ten finish in the US.
In his first event in 10 weeks he finished in a tie for seventh, just two outside a four-man play-off between eventual victor Jason Day, JB Holmes, Harris English and Scott Stallings for the 2015 Farmers Open.
On one of the toughest tracks in the US Lowry was quick out-of-the-blocks birdying the second and he maintained his form playing in ideal conditions.
Having struggled with the South Course on Thursday with a disappointing 74 the Offaly man bounced back with a second round 67 on Friday. Having dipped again with a 72 for the third round Lowry saved much of his best golf for last.
The finish moves him up to 40th in the world rankings.
Jason Day won the four-way play-off to claim an overall victory having been tied on nine under par at the end of the fourth round. When Stallings and English were eliminated on the first hole of the play-off, Day capitalised on a mistake from Holmes to clinch victory.
The win sees the 27-year-old Australian move up to fourth in the world rankings, and he is targeting bigger things in the future.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” he said on Sky Sports 4. “I’ve been visualising myself holding this trophy all weekend, just like I did at the Matchplay (which he won in February 2014), and telling myself I’m not to stop, I’m not going to stop.
“I’m really proud of myself for hanging in there and grinding it out. This is a course I love to be at, the San Diego area is a fantastic place and we’ve had good weather this week so I’m thrilled.”
Told of his rise in the rankings, he added: “That’s good news. My ultimate goal is to get to number one at some point. There are a lot of great golfers ahead of me but this is a good start to the year and hopefully I can stay healthy and get on a good run.”
Holmes and English had begun the day in a share of the lead but played defensively as they both went round in par 72 — with Holmes particularly conservative when he chose to lay it up on the par-five 18th.
That allowed Day and Stallings to make up ground with rounds of 70 and 69 respectively, with Stallings making an eagle on the par-five 13th. Day only just hung on for his 70, having over-hit a chip on the 18th which appeared to be heading for the water before stopping short.
Stallings and English quickly ran into trouble when the play-off began on the 18th hole, with Stallings leaving himself short while English found the rough on the left of the green.
Holmes and Day made birdies to eliminate them, but on the par-three 16th Holmes over-hit his tee shot beyond the green and wound up with a bogey, allowing Day to two-putt for the win.
