The odds of Shane Lowry’s quest to end his Major-winning season as European No. 1 have lengthened considerably after a disappointing third round at the Turkish Airlines Open.
Lowry headed into day three buoyed by a second day 65 but his goal of building on that score sunk in taking a 75 that included just two birdies but also five bogeys.
Lowry looked in no mood to speak after his round and the media present here this week elected to give him the ‘day off’.
The Royal Portrush winning hero tees-up on day four in Belek sharing 52nd place in the now 74-player field.
Shane Lowry speaking after Friday’s superb round of 65
Lowry at four-under par trails a very distant 14 shots adrift of Austrian Matthias Schwab, who leads the field by three shots at 18-under par, while fellow Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, and current European No. 1 elect, signed for a 70 to move to three-under par.
Unlike Lowry, Wiesberger has struggled a bit harded in failing to break 70 over the three days.
The Tour projects Wiesberger will be aboard Sunday night’s Turkish Airlines charter flight to Sun City in South Africa continuing to the lead the Race t Dubai.
The absent Spaniard, Jon Rahm will stay in second while Lowry, who may pick-up some points on Rahm, will head home to Ireland remaining in third but with Schwab, and should he win in Turkey, moving to fourth.
Lowry then will travel to Dubai knowing that to add the European No. 1 crown to his Open Championship success he will probably have to finish top-three and for Wiesberger and Rahm, and that’s if the Spaniard tees-up, to end the year well down the DP World leader board.
