Irish eyes were smiling again at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, this time on Shane Lowry.
One year after his pal, Rory McIlroy, walked off with the title at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, Lowry closed with a bogey-free 4-under-par 66 to win by two strokes over Bubba Watson.
The 28-year-old Lowry took a one-stroke lead to the final hole, where he yanked his drive into the trees, but he hit a remarkable approach shot to within 11 feet of the hole and made the putt for this fourth birdie of the round.
“I was trying to get it to the front right of the green, but I pulled it a little bit,” said Lowry, who claimed his third victory in professional events and earned a three-year exemption on the PGA Tour. “Obviously, it went through the tree, and the rest is history. I couldn’t believe I was seeing the ball coming down from there, coming down on the green.
“I can’t believe it. I’ve played well most of the year, but these last four days are very special.”
Lowry, who won the Irish Open as an amateur in 2009 and captured the 2012 Portugal Masters, didn’t have to deal with the No. 1-ranked McIlroy, who missed the tournament because of a left ankle injury, but he beat all of the other top golfers in the world.
It elevated him from temporary membership to full-time status on the PGA Tour.
Watson also finished with a 66, but made costly bogeys on the third and 15th holes, while 54-hole co-leaders Jim Furyk and Justin Rose of England wound up four shots behind in a tie for third after posting 72s.
Robert Streb carded his third 68 of the tournament to finish another stroke back in solo fifth, while Brooks Koepka shot 69 to wind up six shots behind in tie a for sixth with Henrik Stenson of Sweden, who totaled 70, and Danny Lee of New Zealand and David Lingmerth of Sweden, who both had 68s.
Jordan Spieth, the Masters and U.S. Open champion, warmed up for the PGA Championship this week with a 66 that left him in a tie for 10th–his fifth consecutive top 10–with Players champion Rickie Fowler, who came in with a 67.
Zach Johnson, who won the Open Championship at St, Andrews, finished with a 71 to tie for 33rd, and Phil Mickelson shot 71, failing to break 70 for the fourth straight day, and tied for 63rd.
