PGA Championship: Shane Lowry's Near Miss at Major Scoring Record vs. Scottie Scheffler's Struggles
Witness Shane Lowry's heart-wrenching near miss at a major scoring record during the PGA Championship, as Scottie Scheffler faces his own challenges on the course. Lowry's almost historic achievement and Scheffler's struggles unfold in this gripping golfing showdown.
His face contorted in pain as he looked up at the sky, not the reaction you would expect from a man on the verge of breaking a legendary record. Shane Lowry came incredibly close to making history at the PGA Championship.
During his third round on Saturday, the Irish golfer shot a remarkable nine-under 62, tying the lowest score ever recorded at a men's major tournament. This impressive performance brought him within two strokes of the leaders, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele.
If Lowry's final putt had veered just four inches to the right, he would have achieved an unprecedented score of 61.
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MAY 17: Adam Hadwin of Canada plays his shot from the 12th tee during the second round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on May 17, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Adam Hadwin from Canada was seen taking his shot from the 12th tee during the second round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky on May 17, 2024. (Photo credit: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
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At the PGA Championship, a fan boldly stripped down to retrieve golfer Adam Hadwin's club from the water. Lowry was aiming for his 10th birdie at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky. He made a perfect shot from just under 12 feet, but unfortunately, the ball missed the cup at the last moment, forcing him to settle for a par.
Lowry, who is aiming for his second major victory following his Open Championship win in 2019, expressed his disappointment after shooting a 62. He mentioned that he understood the importance of the situation and felt that he did not hit the ball hard enough during the game. Despite having a good read on the ball, it ended up breaking away from the hole. Lowry admitted that he may have wanted to hole it too much.
"It would have been really awesome to finish it off and make it happen," he said. "But ultimately, I knew that even if I didn't succeed, I still did what I set out to do today, and I'm feeling pretty satisfied with that."
Lowry will start the final round two strokes off the lead.
Lowry will start the final round two strokes off the lead.
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It is only the fifth time in men's major history that a score of 62 has been achieved. This remarkable feat was accomplished by Xander Schauffele, who also achieved the same score at last year's US Open. In fact, Schauffele's score on Thursday marked the second time in this tournament's 106-year history that such a low round has been recorded.
Xander Schauffele joins a select group of golfers who have shot a 62 at a major tournament. The only other golfers to achieve this impressive score are Rickie Fowler (2023 US Open), Branden Grace (2017 Open Championship), and now Shane Lowry.
A thrilling finish is on the horizon. World No. 3 Schauffele was in the lead as the weekend began, but he was caught up by fellow American Morikawa and several other players on a day with low scores. This sets the stage for an exciting finish on Sunday.
Schauffele faced a setback with a double bogey at the 15th hole, but he bounced back nicely with two birdies at the end to finish with a score of 68. He remains at 15-under overall, tied with 2020 champion Morikawa, who shot a 67.
In a statement to reporters, Schauffele expressed his desire to take the lead. He emphasized the importance of gaining as many shots as possible, especially when competing against top players, despite the nerve-wracking moments it may bring.
Morikawa drew level with Schauffele.
Morikawa drew level with Schauffele.
Fellow American Sahith Theegala made a strong comeback after a rough start in the tournament. He came within one stroke of the leading pair by scoring five birdies in the last 10 holes. One of his highlights was a fantastic chip-in from the rough near the green at the 11th hole, helping him finish with a score of 67.
Lowry is part of the group of players chasing behind the American trio. This group includes 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and Norway’s world No. 7 Viktor Hovland. Schauffele and Morikawa are currently leading, with just five strokes separating them from the six golfers tied for 10th place.
Jordan Spieth played well with a strong score of 67. However, he is currently seven shots behind at eight-under overall. To make history as the sixth player to win all four majors in the modern era, Spieth will need to deliver an exceptional performance on Sunday.
Theegala has impressed all week in Lousville.
Theegala has impressed all week in Lousville.
Matt York/AP
Scheffler slides
Tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler, who is one shot behind Spieth in tied-24th place, will need to step up his game after a tough two-over 73.
The world No. 1 seemed calm and collected as he shot a 66 just hours after being released from jail on Friday. However, with his regular caddie Ted Scott absent for his daughter's graduation, he struggled right from the start of his third round.
Scheffler endured an unusually sloppy round.
Scheffler endured an unusually sloppy round.
Scheffler had a rough start, going four-over par in the first four holes. He managed to steady himself after that but still had trouble finding consistency. This led to him shooting over par for the first time since August last year, breaking a streak of 41 consecutive events where he had scored par or lower.
Scheffler won the Masters last month after leading by one shot going into the final 18 holes. Now, he faces the challenge of overcoming an eight-shot deficit to win another major.
He will start his round at 12:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. BST) on Sunday, playing alongside Mark Hubbard. The leading pair, Schauffele and Morikawa, will tee off last at 2:35 p.m. ET (7:35 p.m. BST).
Editor's P/S:
Shane Lowry's pursuit of an historic 61 at the PGA Championship captured the attention of golf fans around the world. His disappointment at missing the putt by a mere four inches is palpable, demonstrating the razor-thin margins at the highest level of the sport. Yet, his resilience in acknowledging the achievement of his 62, and the perspective that it was still within his goals for the day, showcases the mental fortitude of a true champion.
With a thrilling final round on the horizon, the battle for the PGA Championship trophy remains wide open. World No. 3 Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa are locked in a fierce duel at the top of the leaderboard, while Shane Lowry and a host of other contenders lurk within striking distance. The tension and excitement are sure to be palpable as these elite golfers push themselves to the limits in a bid for golfing glory at Valhalla Golf Club.
