Ireland’s Shane Lowry is headed to next month’s US Open if he can finish top three in this week’s BMW PGA Championship.
Lowry is currently ranked 79th in the world and top three in the flagship European Tour event would put the reigning Portugal Masters champion inside the top-60 and the June 13th US Open.
Lowry birdied his closing two holes in a second round 71 to move into a share of eighth place and just four shots from the lead.
Day two of the BMW PGA was very much akin to conditions Lowry battled in capturing the 2009 Irish Open at Baltray.
“I made a lot of ground there over the last few holes and it was such a difficult day but I knew it would probably eliminate at least a third of the field, who wouldn’t want to be out there,” said Lowry.
Shane Lowry on route to a share of 8th place on day two of the BMW PGA Championship. (Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
“I just got a bit unlucky on the eighth hole. I hit a perfect tee shot and only had 115 yards to the flag downwind, which was a flick of a sand iron. I was in an awful divot, kind of deep and small. I tried to just hood a lob wedge and hit it onto the green but fatted it into the water and made double there, which was a bit annoying because I’d played the first few holes poorly and scrambled for pars.
“But I just got on with it and kept going. I made a couple of great putts today. Ten was huge, I holed about a 20-footer for par there which was a great momentum boost for me. I managed to make a few birdies coming in, which was nice.
“We played 12 into the wind so we were expecting to play the last few downwind but and next thing the wind switched. Paul was doing a bit of giving out about it as well (chuckling). It made it really difficult from there in as well.”
As as for birdies at 17 and 18 Lowry remarked: “Seventeen was playing unbelievably long. Our drives were almost pitching on the road short of the fairway. So I hit a good drive, left myself about 300 odd yards. Hit a lovely, low-hook 5-wood, run it down the fairway to about 70 yards short, played a beautiful pitch to about three or four feet and holed it.
“The last, I hit a good tee shot, cut driver around the corner and had 216 front and 240 flag. Hit a 3-iron to 40 feet and two-putted, which was a great way to finish. I just had a look at the leader board there and I’m up there in the top-10 going into the weekend, which is always nice around here.
“I believe the weather’s supposed to be a bit decent tomorrow. I love this golf course and feel like it suits me. I feel like I can play well around here so there’s no reason I can’t contend.
“That was one of the toughest days I’ve had in a long time. Obviously, the greens were a bit more receptive but from 110 yards, trying to hit a 9-iron and the wind’s gusting one way and you think it’s the other way. It plays with your mind out there as well. I’m delighted with the score I shot today. It’s probably the best round I’ve ever shot.”
And with players wrapped up in woollens, water-proofs and gloves it was hard not to let Lowry leave without referring to his stunning Irish Open victory and in similar conditions he faced on day two at Wentworth.
“Ah now … I can’t remember that day it was so long ago,” he smiled.
“I’m really looking forward to it. When I made that double at eight to bring me back to level par, I knew the cut was going to be one or two over, so I thought I was going to struggled here now. I really had to put my head down so to fight my way into contention really was decent.
“If I can shoot something in the 60’s tomorrow and give myself a chance going into Sunday, it’d be nice.”
