Ireland’s Shane Lowry had three major champions breathing down his neck but didn’t falter as he secured the biggest victory of his career in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational tonight.
Lowry began the final round at Firestone Country Club two shots off the lead shared by former US Open champions Justin Rose and Jim Furyk, but wiped out the deficit with birdies on the second and eighth.
And when the 28-year-old produced a spectacular recovery following a wayward tee shot on the 10th, the resulting birdie briefly gave him a two-shot lead over the faltering chasing pack on 10 under par.
Shane Lowry, that shot is supposed to be impossible. #QuickHits http://t.co/QUc5o7GQv3
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 9, 2015
Double Masters champion Bubba Watson then recorded his fourth birdie in six holes on the 13th to close within a shot, with Furyk on eight under and Rose another stroke adrift after chipping in for a birdie on the ninth but then carding his third bogey of the day on the next.
Jordan Spieth had set the early clubhouse target on four under after a final round of 66, but that was not going to be enough for the victory which would have seen him jump to world number one.
That mark was surpassed by Watson, who recovered from a bogey at 15 to finish at 9 under.
Lowry only needed to par his way home but scored a birdie on the last with another stunning recovery.
Shane Lowry. Exclamation point. #QuickHits http://t.co/0LeLPVrwIs
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 9, 2015
Lowry’s victory means that the trophy remains on the island of Ireland, as he follows in the footsteps of close friend Rory McIlroy who won at Firestone last year.
“It’s hard to believe but I played good today,” Lowry told Sky Sports 4. “I was quite nervous out there towards the end but made a lot of good decisions, hit the ball well and got a bit of luck as well which was nice.
“It’s great to be able to pull something off. I was kind of doubting myself a little this year, things haven’t been going my way but when you come out the other end it’s always nice.”