Shane Lowry needs no reminding he has some unfinished business heading into the week’s last hosting of the Honda Classic Florida.
Lowry declared a year ago he had the tournament ‘stolen’ from him when was tied for the lead at nine-under par heading to the 18th hole on the final day at PGA National.
The Irishman was in the last group alongside Daniel ‘Go Slow’ Berger and with Austrian-born Texan Sepp Straka, in the penultimate group ahead, having just launched his massive 334-yard drive down the last that superbly cleared a menacing left fairway bunker that you could really only achieve on a dry golf course.
Lowry was making his way to the 18th tee when the heavens opened!
Shane Lowry is consoled by his caddie Bo Martin after missing his birdie putt to tie Sepp Straka on the 18th hole in final round action of 2022 The Honda Classic. Photo – JEFF ROMANCE/THE PALM BEACH POST
Straka managed to put his second shot onto the green to be staring at an eagle putt.
Lowry, now knowing he could not clear the left bunker as Straka had just did prior to the rain, played a horrible shot of only 241 yards into the left rough from where he was forced to lay-up.
With it now pouring heavily, Straka holed out for a birdie ‘4’ to move to 10-under but with Lowry’s third shot landing some 43-feet shy of the flag from where he two-putted for a par to finish second on nine-under, and after posting three straight rounds of 67 following his opening even-par 70.
Lowry was naturally gutted saying at the time: “It’s hard to take, to be honest. I feel like I’ve got the tournament stolen from me today. I played the golf perfectly to win the tournament, and that’s this game sometimes and this level.
“The last hole was – that was as bad a break as I’ve ever got. You know, especially when you’re standing on the tee and you see him (Straka) over that left bunker [off the tee], which I would’ve been able to do if there was no rain, because I need a drive and a 4- or 5-iron.
“If so, I probably would’ve given myself a better chance with a 4.”
Being the good golfing diplomat, Lowry could have easily singled out Berger for his slowness but he chose not to while many observers did, and with American who led by five heading into the last day, not that quick to get off the course as soon as he could on route to a ‘all over the ball park’ 74, and with players advised by Tour officials heavy rain was on its way.
Lowry arrived at the 2022 Honda Classic looking for a first taste of success since his 2019 Open Championship triumph and he returns a year on still looking to end what is this year is close to a four-year winless run.
As for Berger, it was the second time he’d missed out in being handed the keys to spanking new Honda with Padraig Harrington beating him in a play-off for the 2015 championship.
