Shane Lowry of Ireland won the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday, his first victory since winning the 2019 Open, thanks to a brilliant third round.
With a birdie on the par-5 18th hole at Wentworth, Lowry shot a flawless 65 and moved ahead of Spaniard Jon Rahm, who had previously lit up the course with a stunning 62, reaching 18-under for his three rounds.
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Golf’s most embarrassing competition concludes with a $2 million LIV sledge.
Shane Lowry of Ireland referred to his victory at the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday as “one for the good people” in an apparent dig at the contentious LIV Golf Series.
After Friday’s play was canceled due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Lowry edged out Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy to win the $2A million tournament at Wentworth on Sunday.
Rahm, a former US Open champion, set a challenging clubhouse goal of 16 under par after shooting an outstanding final round of 62, which included a back nine of just 29.
However, Lowry came back with an eagle and five of his own birdies in a final 65 to finish 17 under.
The former British Open champion was rewarded for his steadiness because he went the entire tournament without making a bogey.
In order to force a play-off with Lowry, McIlroy found himself needing to eagle the 18th hole. However, his putt from 23 feet came within millimeters of the hole.
An tense week for a tournament featuring 18 players from the Saudi-sponsored LIV Golf Series came to a dramatic conclusion.
After the breakaway tour sparked a civil war in golf, Lowry had stated at the beginning of the week that he “can’t abide” the LIV stars being on the field.
Before the competition began, American star Billy Horschel and LIV player Ian Poulter were seen having a violent argument on the putting green.
Talor Gooch, an American, finished fourth at Wentworth as the best LIV player, and following his victory, Lowry used the occasion to retaliate against the competing circuit.
“I was upfront about my feelings over the situation. I wanted to win for myself first and foremost, but I also feel like this is a victory for everyone who has supported this Tour, said Lowry.
It’s been a nice year, but I felt like I’ve been close to winning a few times. With only a few tournaments remaining in the season, this was the one I most wanted to win.
“I’m overjoyed. How thrilled I am and how much I adore this tour and this competition are beyond words. Right now, I’m the happiest man on earth.
McIlroy, who shot a final-round score of 67, has also been a vocal opponent of the LIV players, and he confessed it gave him some solace to see his good friend Lowry win.
“I’m good. I believe Shane’s victory lessens the blow. I might not have been as at ease with it if it had been someone else. I’m always delighted to see a friend succeed, and I wish him the best of luck,” he remarked.
I had trouble today. My iron shots weren’t very accurate. Despite my considerable scrambling, I managed to maximize my round.
Rory McIlroy loses to Shane Lowry in the BMW PGA Championship, ending his three-year winless streak.
After winning the BMW PGA Championship at the Wentworth Golf Club in Virginia Water, England, Shane Lowry celebrates with the trophy.
Shane Lowry’s thrilling victory at the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday put an end to his three-year winless streak.
At Wentworth, the Irishman edged off longtime friends Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm by one shot to win his first championship since the 2019 Open Championship in July.
The 35-year-old carded a bogey-free 17-under over the championship’s amended 54 holes, which was reduced from the traditional 72 holes after Friday’s second round was postponed due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. This victory was his sixth on the DP World Tour.
Lowry entered Sunday two strokes off the lead after shooting a six-under 66 and a 68 in the first two days, but his final round erupted with an eagle at the fourth hole.
Rahm, the 2021 US Open champion, had set the clubhouse target at 16-under after shooting a joint-event best 62, and Lowry tied him with a fourth birdie on the 12th hole.
With McIlroy right behind him, Lowry needed to birdie the last hole to avoid a playoff with Rahm after a steady run of five consecutive pars. The Irishman made it a hat-trick to put himself within striking distance of the championship after birdying the 18th on each of the first two rounds.
The Northern Irishman needed to make an eagle on the par-five 18th hole to force a playoff, and he came agonizingly close to doing so. The newly minted PGA Tour Championship champion reached the green in just two strokes, but his 23-foot eagle putt fell just inches short of claiming victory for Lowry.
Lowry told reporters, “I am extremely happy. “To win on this tour, or any tour, is so difficult. Some of the top players in the world are attempting to catch up with you.
“I believed that I was capable of winning all year long, but I thought that I lacked the breaks necessary to triumph in competitions.
“I’m simply extremely glad and thankful that I was able to win this event as well. I don’t think I like to do things lightly, so it’s good to have this on my résumé as well.”
Who won today’s BMW PGA?
Shane Lowry defeated Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm to win the BMW PGA Championship, snapping a 38-month winless streak on the DP World Tour.
After Friday’s play was canceled due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the Wentworth event was truncated to 54 holes. Lowry finished the week with a seven-under 65 and a bogey-free round.
The Irishman won his sixth DP World Tour championship and first since The Open at Royal Portrush in 2019 by finishing the week on 17 under par, one stroke better than his Ryder Cup teammates McIlroy and Rahm.
The round-of-the-day leader Jon Rahm concluded with a 20-foot eagle to finish with a 62 and set the clubhouse goal at 16 under.
Lowry, who entered the final round two strokes behind the lead, started the round with an eagle at the par-five fourth and followed it up with a hole shot from the fringe at the seventh and a 25-foot birdie at the next to get to the turn in 31.
The 35-year-old pulled even with the Spaniard after getting up and down from a greenside bunker to take advantage of the par-five 12th, which he started his back nine with a birdie to make within one of Rahm, who had set the clubhouse target with a round-of-the-day 62.
Before responding with birdies at the 10th, 12th, and hole from the fringe at the 15th to close the gap on Lowry, McIlroy had also eagled the fourth earlier in the day. However, he three-putted from a distance to bogey the eighth.
When McIlroy was unable to make a final-hole eagle to force a play-off, Lowry reached the par-five 18th green in two strokes and two-putted from 20 feet for birdie, setting the clubhouse target. This was enough to win the match.
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When Rahm played a five-hole stretch in six under around the turn and then overcame a bogey at the 15th with a birdie-birdie-eagle finish, he tied McIlroy for the lead at 16 under after his eagle try fell just inches short of the target.
Talor Gooch, who shot a final-hole eagle to finish at fourth place, was the highest-ranked LIV Golf player overall. Patrick Reed, who concluded the week in a four-way tie for fifth place, shot a bogey-free 63.
Reflecting on his final-round 63 and nine birdies at Wentworth, Patrick Reed
Along with Reed and Thomas Detry of Belgium, overnight co-leaders Soren Kjeldsen and Viktor Hovland also finished on 14 under. Meanwhile, defending champion Billy Horschel shared ninth place with Rafa Cabrera Bello, Francesco Molinari, and Matthieu Pavon.
How much did the BMW Golf champion earn?
On Sunday, two Irishmen engaged in a duel to the finish of the BMW PGA Championship in England’s Wentworth. Shane Lowry emerged victorious, defeating Rory McIlroy by one stroke.
Due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, the DP World Tour’s premier tournament had to be cut to 54 holes. On Sunday, Lowry came back with a seven-under-par 65. He had no bogeys and seven birdies, including a four on the final par-five hole. On the 18th hole, McIlroy (67) had a chance to tie but missed his eagle putt.
Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy played early and achieved a 10-under 62, which included two eagles, for a total of 17 under, one shot better than Lowry. American Talor Gooch, who has switched allegiances to LIV Golf, finished the round with a 67 and alone in fourth place.
Out of a $8 million total prize pool, $1.36 million went to the winner outside of London. The prize money for each player who made the cut this week is listed below.
What did the winner of the BMW Golf receive?
The defending FedEx Cup winner won the second leg of the playoffs at Delaware’s Wilmington Country Club for the second year in a row.
The BMW Championship, which was played for the first time at Wilmington Country Club in Delaware, continued the PGA Tour playoffs. For the Tour Championship in Atlanta, only the top 30 of the FedEx Cup standings were invited.
Patrick Cantlay won the BMW for the second year running and will finish behind Scottie Scheffler in the points standings in Atlanta. From the $15 million pool, Cantlay takes home $2.7 million.
Exactly how many golfers qualify for the BMW Championship?
Following the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the top 70 PGA Tour golfers compete in the BMW Championship. There are just 70 competitors, hence there is no 36-hole cut. The participants are determined by FedEx Cup points accumulated throughout the regular PGA Tour season and then at The Northern Trust. Following the BMW Championship, the top 30 FedEx Cup point scorers proceed to the Tour Championship, the final playoff event, where the FedEx Cup champion will be decided.
The 2015 BMW Championship was held at the Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Illinois. Jason Day won the competition with a score of -22 after setting a personal best of 61 (-10) in the first round. In 2016, the competition was held at Crooked Stick, which is close to Indianapolis. Dustin Johnson won with a score of -23. At the 2017 BMW Championship held at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Illinois, Australian Marc Leishman won with ease.
What is the BMW golf tournament payout?
Players are vying for positions in the top-30 of the FedEx Cup standings in order to go to East Lake and next week’s Tour Championship in addition to the $15 million reward. Additionally, the BMW is the final chance for players to earn Presidents Cup points and place in the top-6 (for American players) or top-8 (for international players) to secure automatic spots on their respective teams.
Patrick Cantlay, the defending winner, is ahead after 54 holes at 12-under. Last year, Cantlay defeated Bryson DeChambeau at Caves Valley, close to Baltimore, in a six-hole playoff. But prior to this week’s tournament, Cantlay criticized the PGA Tour’s approach of choosing courses that favor long hitters and the course design at this week’s event at Wilmington Country Club.
Xander Schauffele, Cantlay’s close friend and teammate for their victory at the Zurich Classic earlier this season, sits one shot behind him at 11-under. As a result of his 5-under 66 on the last day, Schauffele shot up the leaderboard. Scott Stallings, who also shot 66 on Saturday, is tied with Schauffele at 11-under.
Scottie Scheffler is one shot down at 10-under and appears set to retake the top spot in the FedEx Cup standings going into East Lake, giving him a two-shot lead to begin the tournament. Adam Scott, who leads after 36 holes, is also at 10-under and needs a strong finish to return to the Tour Championship for the first time since 2019.