Lowry delivers for hurting Europe in Ryder Cup debut
KOHLER, United States: Shane Lowry rewarded European captain Padraig Harrington’s faith on Saturday with a sensational performance alongside Tyrrell Hatton in a four-balls win over Tony Finau and Harris English.
With Europe struggling, Ryder Cup newcomer Lowry came through, draining an 11-foot par putt to tie the 18th hole and preserve a 1-up victory.
Although Europe would have to mount the biggest final-day comeback in Ryder Cup history to retain the trophy they won in France, pumped up Irishman Lowry was ready to take them on.
“I read a quote last night, I was looking at stuff on my phone, and for some reason it popped up, and it was like if you’ve got a 1 per cent chance, you have to have 100 per cent faith,” Lowry, the 2019 British Open champion, said.
“And I just think that we really need to live by that tonight and tomorrow and go out and give it our best.”
Against Finau and English – who beat Lowry and Rory McIlroy in four-balls on Friday – Lowry opened with three straight birdies, his 26-foot birdie at the par-3 third putting the Europeans 1-up. After he rolled in a 19-foot putt for his fifth birdie of the day at the 10th – which preserved the 1-up lead – Lowry let loose with a fist-shaking roar.
Hatton had his struggles but contributed a birdie at the par-4 11th that pushed the lead to 2-up, but Finau trimmed the deficit with a birdie to win the 13th. — AFP