Shane Lowry – enjoys the moment – photo Getty Images
The event might have been reduced to just 54 holes as a result of play being suspended to honour the passing of Queens Elizabeth 11, but the DP World Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship, still managed to produce some record scoring and stunning golf as Ireland’s Shane Lowry produced a final round of 65 to win by one over Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, the latter of who had three hours earlier reeled off a final round of 62 to take the lead.
It was a day when several of those out early began to challenge for the lead, held overnight by Patrick Hovland and Soren Kjeldsen.
Patrick Reed was the first to make a statement when is final round of 62 swept him to the lead before the leaders had even teed off but as the day wore on it would be Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry who emerged as the players most likely to take the title.
Rahm’s 62 had given him the lead but with so many birdies on offer over the closing nine at Wentworth, Lowry and McIlroy, who were playing in the fourth and third last second to last groups of the day, had many opportunities remaining to move ahead.
Lowry stood on the 18th tee at 16 under and after failing to birdie the first of the two par five finishing holes (the 17th). At that point he was one ahead of McIlroy and Rahm. His approach from 215 yards finished 15 feet from the hole at the par five last and set up a chance to perhaps take the title there and then.
His putt missed and so he would be forced to wait and see if McIlroy could eagle the last and force a playoff. The recently crowned FedEx Cup Champion’s approach finished just over 20 feet from the hole and, after much surveying, his putt looked as if it might just fall before coming to rest on the edge of the hole and he was one behind Lowry.
Only Thomas Detry could possibly affect the outcome but that would require him holing a shot from the fairway bunker at the last and that was never going to happen and so Lowry emerged the winner of the European Tour’s most prized title.
Lowry pockets €1,351,000 (A$2 million) and moves to 5th in the race to Dubai standings, McIlroy still well on target to win the Race to Dubai title, having the lead over Viktor Hovland at this stage.
Jokingly, after the result was confirmed, both Lowry and McIlroy embraced with Lowry perhaps summing things up when he suggested to McIlroy that he had ‘won enough already.’
“It means a lot,” said Lowry later. “It’s been a good year but felt like I’ve been close a few times and felt like I’ve only got a few tournaments left this season and wanted to try and win one, and obviously this one is right up at the top the list.
“I love it here and I’ve contended in the past, and even going down the back nine today, I was like, the bad shots that I’ve hit over the years in contention actually started to creep into my head and it’s amazing what this game does.
“I’m so happy. Honestly words can’t put into how happy I am, how much this means to me and how much I love this tour and how much I love this tournament. I’m the happiest man in the world right now.
“This is a great start (to Ryder Cup qualification). Obviously, I want it make the team and I want to make it easy for Luke. I feel like I can be a good addition to the team and we can go to Rome and challenge and win that Ryder Cup back. I’m very excited that I’ve made some good points this week and I’m hoping in the next few months to make the team automatically and go to Rome in 12 months.”
Scott Hend finished as the leading Australian when he tied for 32nd and earned €56,000. Maverick Antcliff was 42nd and tied with Jason Scrivener, Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott.