SHANE LOWRY WAS eliminated from the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship in the cruellest fashion last night.

Lowry was left speechless as Rickie Fowler reeled off a series of sensational putts to come from behind and progress to the last 16 at his expense.

The Clara man was two up with six holes to play but took bogeys at the 13th and 14th to let Fowler draw level.

He then watched in disbelief as his opponent conjured up a 16-foot birdie on the 15th followed an 18-footer for par at the 16th and then an even better 30-footer to save par on the 17th.

Those heroics were only enough to keep the match all square as it headed down the 18th before Fowler clinched victory and a place in the knockout rounds with a birdie four.

Lowry said: “Well all I can say about that is… Wow!!!

“Fair play to @RickieFowlerPGA. Really enjoyed the battle out there today. #lovematchplay”

Lowry faces Harris English in his third and final round robin match on Friday while Graeme McDowell, who was also eliminated, takes on Fowler in another dead rubber.

World number one Rory McIlroy faces Billy Horschel in a winner-take-all clash to decide who progresses from Group 1. Both men have won their first two matches with McIlroy beating Brandt Snedeker 2up on Thursday while Horschel beat Jason Dufner 3&2.

Titans stick with Mariota as Jets and Rams provide the big surprises in round one