Shane Lowry provided further evidence that he’s a man to watch in the Majors this year when he felt uncomfortable with his game but produced a short game masterclass to keep his victory hopes alive in the Cognizant Classic in Florida.
He didn’t feel good after opening with a 66 and while those feelings persisted as he plotted his way through his first 14 holes in one-under, he holed a 40-yard pitch at the tough sixth (his 15th) before watching a flop shot from deep rough disappear into the hole at the 208-yard seventh.
It all added up to a three-under 68 and an eight-under par total that left him four shots off the pace as overnight leader Jake Knapp tried to back up his first round 59.
“I sort of felt like today any time I hit a good shot, I missed the putt and anytime I hit a bad shot, I chipped in,” grinned Lowry, who gained 3.5 shots on the field around the greens but was well below his best from tee to green or with the putter.
“I mean, six and seven are just Brucie bonuses, really… To chip in there on those two holes was definitely a bonus.”
While Seamus Power shot a one-over 72 to finish three shots outside the projected cut mark on one-under, Lowry reckons he has a chance in event where he’s finished second, fifth and fourth in his last three starts.
“Yes, I didn’t hit the ball as well as I would have liked. but eight-under for two rounds around here is pretty good,” said Lowry, who was contemplating a 30-minute ball-striking session on his return home “just to try and get a good feeling going into the weekend.”
Lowry wasn’t the only man to hole out twice from off the green yesterday.
England’s Dale Whitnell carded two holes-in-one during a once-in-a-lifetime round on day two of the weather-delayed Investec South African Open, beating odds of 67 million to one.
He aced the 179-yard second at the Durban Country Club, eagled the par-five third and then aced the 149-yard 12th to card a nine-under 63 that left him five shots behind South Africa’s Shaun Norris on nine-under.
“I’ve never had one in tournament play,” Whitnell said. “I’ve had one in practice at Le Golf National in Paris but to have two in one day is pretty special.
“I’ve had everything today: an air shot, two bogeys, a double, three eagles and come out nine-under par so I can’t complain.”
Norris shot 64 to lead by a shot on 14-under from countryman Dylan Naidoo, who shot 61, when play was suspended.
Meanwhile, England’s Charley Hull has been added to the roster of stars confirmed for July’s KPMG Women’s Irish Open.
The Solheim Cup star will join 2026 European captain Anna Nordqvist and teammates Leona Maguire, Georgia Hall and Madelene Sagstrom, at Carton House from July 3-6.
