Ireland’s Shane Lowry was very relieved to have made the cut and be assured of playing all four rounds of this year’s Valero Texas Open.
After missing the cut in last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida Lowry has bounced back and fought his way through the tough windy first round here in San Antonio to add a second straight round of 74 for a four over par tally on the TPC San Antonio course.
And the Carton House pro could look back to holing a great six footer for par at his last hole, the par four 9th, and the assurance of now playing all four rounds in the $US 6.2m event and his final hit out before a maiden Masters appearance.
Shane Lowry makes the cut in 2015 Valero Texas Open. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I was thinking I needed that putt to make the cut but I’m fine and it’s great now I’ve got two more rounds to play taking into account the bigger picture,” he said.
“The last thing I wanted to be doing was having two days off in this my last event before the Masters.
“As well, the greens are starting to dry out and speed up and that’s what I need to test me over the weekend.
“I drove the ball well today and that’s the strong part of my game at present but then the only concern is that I am kind of getting in my own way a little bit by trying too hard and trying to force things.
“But in saying that it’s a tough golf course and if I can just get that area between my ears sorted out, I should okay.”
American Jimmy Walker enjoyed the clubhouse lead birding three of his closing four holes in a round of 67 to move to six under par.
Walker captured the Sony Open in Hawaii earlier this year while fellow Texan Jordan Spieth (69) is well-placed sharing fourth place at four under par.
And Phil Mickelson, despite losing his voice, was in a group at two under par with scores of 70 and 72.
He said: “I did do a good job
