SHANE LOWRY FINISHED second, one shot behind winner Sepp Straka, at the Honda Classic on the PGA Tour as rain impacted the end of the final round in Florida.
Straka became the first Austrian to win on the PGA Tour as he finished on 10-under, with Lowry on his own in second on nine-under. Straka conjured a late birdie blitz to snatch victory, three birdies in his final five holes at Palm Beach Gardens, as overnight leader Daniel Berger suffered a final round meltdown.
Straka, who moved to the United States with his family as a teenager, fired a final-round 66 that left him on 10 under for the tournament with a 72-hole aggregate 270. The 28-year-old sealed victory after rolling a long eagle putt to within a few inches on the 18th for a simple tap-in birdie as torrential rain lashed the course.
Advertisement
That meant the chasing Lowry had to birdie the last to force a playoff, but the 2019 Open champion could only make par. Lowry had begun the day five shots off the lead held by Daniel Berger after the Offaly native had hit rounds of 70, 67 and 67 before the final round.
But Berger endured a nightmare start on his front nine as he double bogeyed the 3rd and also dropped shots on the 5th and 6th holes.
Lowry began impressively with a birdie on the first and another arrived on the 4th. His third birdie on the day arrived on the 11th and he was two shots clear but then Austrian golfer Straka emerged as the challenger as he birdied on the 9th, 14th and 16th holes, to tie the lead.
Straka managed to birdie the last as he carded a 66 and Lowry was unable to replicate that as he played the 18th amidst a heavy downpour, having to settle for a 67.
Berger meanwhile had given himself a fighting chance after his rocky start after chipping in from just off the green on the 14th to move within one of the lead at eight under.
But Berger’s challenge ended after he found the water on 18, leaving him with a four-over-par 74 to finish fourth on seven under.
Kurt Kitayama was third after a final round two-under-par 68.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
5 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Shane Lowry comes up just short as Straka becomes first Austrian to win on PGA Tour
SHANE LOWRY FINISHED second, one shot behind winner Sepp Straka, at the Honda Classic on the PGA Tour as rain impacted the end of the final round in Florida.
Straka became the first Austrian to win on the PGA Tour as he finished on 10-under, with Lowry on his own in second on nine-under. Straka conjured a late birdie blitz to snatch victory, three birdies in his final five holes at Palm Beach Gardens, as overnight leader Daniel Berger suffered a final round meltdown.
Straka, who moved to the United States with his family as a teenager, fired a final-round 66 that left him on 10 under for the tournament with a 72-hole aggregate 270. The 28-year-old sealed victory after rolling a long eagle putt to within a few inches on the 18th for a simple tap-in birdie as torrential rain lashed the course.
That meant the chasing Lowry had to birdie the last to force a playoff, but the 2019 Open champion could only make par. Lowry had begun the day five shots off the lead held by Daniel Berger after the Offaly native had hit rounds of 70, 67 and 67 before the final round.
But Berger endured a nightmare start on his front nine as he double bogeyed the 3rd and also dropped shots on the 5th and 6th holes.
Lowry began impressively with a birdie on the first and another arrived on the 4th. His third birdie on the day arrived on the 11th and he was two shots clear but then Austrian golfer Straka emerged as the challenger as he birdied on the 9th, 14th and 16th holes, to tie the lead.
Straka managed to birdie the last as he carded a 66 and Lowry was unable to replicate that as he played the 18th amidst a heavy downpour, having to settle for a 67.
Berger meanwhile had given himself a fighting chance after his rocky start after chipping in from just off the green on the 14th to move within one of the lead at eight under.
But Berger’s challenge ended after he found the water on 18, leaving him with a four-over-par 74 to finish fourth on seven under.
Kurt Kitayama was third after a final round two-under-par 68.
- Additional reporting by AFP
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Florida Golf PGA Tour Shane Lowry