Shane Lowry proudly strode to the famed Georgia clubhouse clearly delighted to have fought back from a horror start and ensure his place in the final two rounds of the 85th Masters.
After slumping to three-over after just two holes, Lowry played the remaining 16 holes in two-under in a round of 73 for a 36-hole level par tally at Augusta National.
Lowry headed into the warmer conditions of day two at one-under par but after finding the opening fairway the Clara golfer soon found himself at two-over for the round when he horribly three-putted the first in taking a double-bogey ‘6’.
He then found the deep fairway bunker down the right of the second but then in playing his third, Lowry looked away with his shot missing the green well left.
It resulted in a bogey ‘6’ for Lowry to be three-over after only two holes.
Shane Lowry could stand tall fighting back from a horror start to post a one-over par 73 and make it into the weekend rounds of the Masters. Luv the reaction from the three front left
Lowry, and the reigning Open Champion for a second Masters running, began his fightback with a wedge to 18-feet and for a one-putt birdie ‘3’ at the par- .
He then found the bunker front right of the green at the downhill par-3 fourth hole but then after landing his second to eight feet he showed his delight in holing the par-saving putt with a right fist pump.
Lowry gave two shots back with bogeys on seven and 11 before coming to the famed par-3 12th hole, and known as Golden Bell, where he rang the birdie bell loudly in sending a 15-foot from below the flag into the cup.
He then shortened the par-5 13th in finding a bunker at the back of the green in two before Lowry brilliantly splashed out and coming with just four inches of earning a set of Augusta crystal high-ball glasses has Lowry’s shot dropped.
It was Lowry’s third birdie and he wasn’t done in producing four straight pars and rounding off his 16th Augusta National round in his sixth Masters showing in going with inches of holing his penultimate shot.
Shane Lowry, clearly in great spirits, about to hurl his divot at caddy ‘Bo’ Martin after a brilliant shot into the 18th. The duo worked superbly after a horror start.
Bo easily avoid the flying divot and the pair head up to the 18th green pretty pleased with their combined efforts after their horror start
Shane Lowry’s second shot into 18 (right) almost found the cup at the last.
Then to show his delight he picked-up his divot and hurled it at caddy ‘Bo’ Martin but easily missing his beloved bagman.
Lowry had just 18-inches for birdie and a gutsy 73 that could, and after the opening two holes, that could have ended in disappointment.
“After the start I had, I’m really pleased with myself how I dug-in”, said Lowry.
“The birdie on three was a huge lift and really helped to settle me down and from there I played pretty steady. The birdie on 12 was another boost, and how that eagle shot from the bunker 13 didn’t drop was just amazing as it was just a perfect bunker shot.
“I then just played really steady and produced this fantastic wedge shot at the last. You can’t see the bottom of the flag from where I was but I’m told it nearly found the cup.
“So, to walk off with a birdie there on 18 was a huge boost heading to the weekend.
“Also, Justin (Rose) has really opened the door today with his score today but that’s how August is and all we can do now is wait and see what the guys in the afternoon do.
“I’m going off to enjoy some lunch, a little practice but now excited about the weekend.”
After opening the door for the likes of Lowry was Justin Rose, who was grouped with Lowry for the first two days.
However, after producing a first round 65 and lead by four, Rose produced a 72 that halved his then clubhouse lead, to just two to remain at seven-under.
And brilliantly making the Masters cut for a first time in four years was two-time Augusta winner Jose Maria Olazabal with scores of 75 and 71.
Olazabal, 55 made his Masters debut in 1985 and winning a first green jacket in 1994 and a second under huge emotional strain in 1999.
“Well, I have to say that I enjoyed the two days,” he said.
“I hit the ball better today, but because of the conditions on the golf course, it’s lovely to see Augusta played like we have the last two days, fast and firm. It reminds me a lot of the late ’80s and ’90s.
“I felt great. I felt relaxed. It’s true that I had a little hiccup on three and four, but I played pretty solid all day long. I missed, I would say, maybe two, three shots really bad, but the rest were okay.”
