Shane Lowry, despite referring to the experience as “torture”, couldn’t contain his smile as he departed from the 18th green in his third round of the 124th US Open. In his exceptional level-par 70 performance, he secured a comfortable spot in the mid-ranks of the leaderboard, closing out the three-quarter mark of the championship at five-over-par 215. Following a challenging day marked by mid-30-degree temperatures, persistent winds, solid greens, and complex pin placements, Lowry asserted, “This is the toughest level par I’ve ever played.”
Lowry didn’t mince words, saying, “The experience was far from amusing,” he stated. Skillfully guided by his caddie Darren Reynolds, Lowry charted a course which yielded him a 70, comprised of three birdies, three bogeys and 12 pars. Concurrently, Tom McKibbin, exhibiting a striking start to his Majors debut, succeeded in retaining his place above the elimination line, producing an impressive 71 for 216.
Furthermore, an obviously exhausted Lowry quipped of his plans, saying, “I’ll head home and relax a few hours on the sofa.” He remained hopeful for the final day, joking, “If a level par [on Sunday] happens, it’ll mark a triumphant tournament.” However, he observed that a score below par would certainly be superior. Acknowledging the challenge of the opening half on Thursday, he voiced contentment over his overall performance in the first three days of the tournament.
Lowry also emphasised the importance of strategic caution in the game. He uniquely observed the benefits of short-sided playing over keeping a distance from the flag. He highlighted that, given how the course is set up, it was more prudent to go long-sided when a shot slightly harder than intended could throw you off balance. Further, it enabled keeping bad shots past the hole to a minimum, offering a good chance for par. Lowry was of the view that one could bear bogeys in such a setup, but definitely not doubles, a lesson he abided by amidst tough conditions.
The exceptional birdies on the challenging sixth and 16th holes played against the odds. His daring birdie putt from a distance of 40 feet on the 17th hole brushed the rim of the hole but it was his timely par save on the 18th hole that truly commanded attention. His approach rolled off the green, leaving him a good 55 feet from the target. Taking an ingenious decision to tackle the grainy slope by putting, his execution was flawless, leaving him with a minor putt for saving the par.
Lowry, with a smile dawning upon his face as he departed the 18th green, shed light on his critical decision. He pointed out that due to the grainy nature of the green, the most favourable strategy to adopt was putting. This clever move won him praise from spectators, reflecting the broad fan base he has cultivated in the United States.
For McKibbin, the US Open experience was both new and rewarding. His performance demonstrated comfort and familiarity. The 21-year-old native of Belfast grossed 71, turning the tables after a three-over 35 for the initial nine holes with the help of impressive birdies on the 12th and 15th holes. This swift recovery propelled him past a fair number of competitors on the scoreboard.
Speaking about his birdie putt that sealed his participation past the cut-off on the previous Friday, McKibbin expressed considerable relief, “A miss by one shot would have been quite a disappointment. I would have felt better to have scored 80 and missed it considerably. The opportunity to participate in these final days of a Major is invaluable and should serve me well moving forward.”