Shane Lowry knows Wentworth. Two years ago, he fought off Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm in dramatic fashion to lift the BMW PGA Championship trophy. This year? The magic hasn’t quite been there.
After three rounds, Lowry sits at seven under par — eight shots behind co-leaders Alex Noren and Adrien Saddier. That gap, with only 18 holes left, makes a late charge for a second Wentworth win highly unlikely.
Lowry had his chances on Saturday. A birdie at 12 had him at four under for the day, but that was as good as it got. The Irishman played the final six holes without another birdie, and a string of missed opportunities down the stretch left him visibly frustrated.
“I put myself in position these last few holes to make a little run,” Lowry told Sky Sports. “Middle of the fairway, well down on 17, middle of the fairway, well down on 18, to finish with two pars is always very disappointing.”
Still, Lowry isn’t exactly walking away deflated. His third-round 68 came without a bogey, and he insists the building blocks are there — especially with the Ryder Cup looming at Bethpage Black, where he’ll tee it up as one of Luke Donald’s captain’s picks.
“I feel like I’m hitting the ball well, I feel good,” Lowry said. “My driver feels good. My irons haven’t been as good as I would like this week, but when I get on the greens, I’m starting to hit my putts at the hole. A lot of them have a chance of going in, so I’m happy with what I see there as well.”
That’s the silver lining. Even if he’s too far back to contend for the Wentworth crown this time, Lowry’s form seems to be sharpening at just the right moment. With the Ryder Cup less than two weeks away, the BMW PGA Championship has become less about the trophy — and more about momentum.
For Team Europe, a confident Shane Lowry heading to New York could be every bit as valuable as another win at Wentworth.
