Ireland’s Shane Lowry is now certain to qualify for next fortnight’s WGC – Cadillac Championship at Doral and also earn an invitation to the Masters after his second straight victory in Arizona.
A day after bundling World No. 1 Rory McIlroy out of the WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship and Lowry is through to the final 16 after humbling Sweden’s Carl Petersson 6 & 5 in one of the biggest defeats in round two.
“I was difficult as I struggled to get to sleep last night with after my match with Rory so if was tough to get myself up today,” he said.
“But I am delighted to win today given the way I was feeling after yesterday’s match.
“I’m sure they’re all down at the local pub having a few drinks watching the golf on Sky and they’re celebrating my win today. Hopefully I can give them something to cheer about tomorrow, as well.”
The current World No. 68 was never behind in his match against the Swede who is presently the No. 35 ranked player in the world.
Lowry is contesting the $US 8.75m event for a first time in his career having found his way into the field by just 0.0002 of a World Ranking point.
And even if the reigning Portugal Masters champion should lose his third round match tomorrow (Sat) he will secure enough World Ranking points to move well inside the top-50.
That would ensure Lowry qualifies for WGC – Cadillac Championship and the hope of making also a first appearance in the Masters.
Lowry has also now advanced farther than any previous 64th seed has in the history of the WGC tournament.
“To lose in the second round is not what I want coming here this week,” the Dubliner added.
“I wanted to go on. I feel like I could potentially do very well in this tournament.”
Pettersson, who earlier in the day finished the completion of his first-round win over Rickie Fowler, didn’t play poorly but couldn’t keep up. He pared his first eight holes and found himself 3 down at that point. He dropped the ninth hole with a bogey and suffered another bogey at the 12th. He never won a hole.
SCORECARD STATS: Lowry carded five birdies and no bogeys. Pettersson carded one birdie and two bogeys.
HOLES WON: Lowry – six. Pettersson – zero!
NEXT OPPONENT: Lowry now plays Graeme McDowell in the third round and in a second third all-Ireland showdown this week.
