BMW PGA Championship: Shane Lowry holds off Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm to claim Wentworth victory
Rory McIlroy narrowly missed out final-hole eagle to force a play-off, with Jon Rahm also tied-second after a round-of-the-day 62; Shane Lowry posted a seven-under 65 to finish on 17 under and secure a first worldwide victory since his win at The Open in 2019
Monday 12 September 2022 06:21, UK
Shane Lowry ended a 38-month winless run on the DP World Tour by holding off Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm to claim an impressive victory in the BMW PGA Championship.
Lowry made an eagle and five birdies to post a seven-under 65 and close a bogey-free week at the Wentworth event, reduced to 54 holes after Friday's play was cancelled due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Irishman ended the week on 17 under and one ahead of Ryder Cup team-mates McIlroy and Rahm, securing him his sixth DP World Tour title and first since The Open at Royal Portrush in 2019.
Lowry, heading into the final round two strokes off the lead, followed a 10-foot eagle at the par-five fourth by holing from the fringe at the seventh and converting a 25-foot birdie at the next to reach the turn in 31.
The 35-year-old started his back nine with a birdie to move within one of Rahm, who had set the clubhouse target with a round-of-the-day 62, before pulling level with the Spaniard by getting up and down from a greenside bunker to take advantage of the par-five 12th.
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McIlroy had also eagled the fourth earlier in the day but three-putted from distance to bogey the eighth, only to respond with birdies at the 10th, 12th and hole from the fringe at the 15th to get within one of Lowry.
Lowry failed to find a birdie at the 17th but reached the par-five 18th green in two and two-putted from 20 feet for birdie, setting the clubhouse target, which was enough for victory when McIlroy was unable to find a final-hole eagle to force a play-off.
McIlroy's eagle attempt stopped inches short of the target and left him on 16 under, with Rahm on the same total after playing a five-hole stretch in six under around the turn and then cancelling out a bogey at the 15th with a birdie-birdie-eagle finish.
Talor Gooch finished as the highest-ranked member of the LIV Golf contingent after a final-hole eagle closed a 67 and lifted him to fourth spot, with Patrick Reed posting a bogey-free 63 to end the week in a four-way tie for fifth.
Overnight co-leaders Soren Kjeldsen and Viktor Hovland also finished on 14 under alongside Reed and Belgium's Thomas Detry, while defending champion Billy Horschel claimed a share of ninth with Rafa Cabrera Bello, Francesco Molinari and Matthieu Pavon.
The DP World Tour season moves to Italy next for the DS Automobiles Italian Open, beginning on Thursday and held at next year's Ryder Cup venue, with McIlroy and US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick among those confirmed to be taking part.
Watch the DS Autmobiles Italian Open live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on Thursday September 15 with Featured Groups from 7.30am on Sky Sports Golf, ahead of full coverage from 12.30pm.
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