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'I Feel Like I Got The Tournament Stolen' - Shane Lowry Reacts To Honda Classic Second

Monday, 28 February 2022 08:08

He carded a final round of 67 in Florida.

Shane Lowry's charge for the Honda Classic title came up just short last night. 

The Offaly golfer finished in second on nine-under-par, one shot behind eventual winner Sepp Straka. 

Lowry carded a final round of three-under 67, but was unable to birdie the par-five 18th to force a play-off. 

Straka is the first Austrian to a win a PGA Tour event. 

Speaking afterwards Lowry said: 

Yeah, that's the game unfortunately. I played the golf, good enough golf I felt to win the tournament. That bad weather came in just as we were hitting our tee shot on 18, which was as bad a break as I've got in a while.

Yeah, it's a tough one to take. There is obviously a lot of positives to take from the whole event. You know, probably played some of best golf my whole career this week I feel around a very tough golf course. And, you know, I'll take that into The PLAYERS, and hopefully I can have a good week there.

And so the game plan is to chip way at the lead. Was it shocking somewhat that you were on the 6 tee tied?

Well, I talk to my -- I talked to my coach -- when I'm in that situation, we talk about that a lot. You know, I was ready for anything out there today. I feel like mentally I'm very good at the minute.

And, yeah, before I knew I was leading the golf tournament. It was great. I really enjoyed it. Quite nerve wracking. It's a tough place to be. I felt like I handled myself well. Just got stolen away from me today.

Did your mindset change from being that behind to being in the lead?

No, because on this golf course you just have to keep doing your own thing and just keep chipping away at pars and hopefully making a few birdies. Yeah, middle of greens, trying to hole a few putts when you get a chance. You know, yeah, I just kind of kept doing my thing, and like I said, I felt like my game was great today and all week.

You know, shot 67 three days in a row around this course in these conditions is pretty good.

Before 18 there was 17, and obviously that probably wasn't the tee shot you were looking for.

Yeah, I hit a pretty poor tee shot there, but it was a tricky number for me. It was a really good 9-iron, and one I felt like if I got it open the wind -- could have come up short. I was just was trying to make sure I hit it like 20 feet past; pulled it a little bit.

Unbelievable. Really nice up and down there. Really nice chip. Tough chip. Holed a nice putt, and obviously what happened on 18 happened there. Obviously very disappointing.

Does it seem that long before you've won last?

Yeah, it's hard to win out here. It's just hard. End of story. There is no point saying any different. You go out like I did today, I played the golf to win the tournament but didn't win. So just PGA Tour and the top level of world golf, the standard is very high at the minute.

Yeah, just hard.

Is it hard not to feel gutted?

Yeah, it will be. No, it will be. Like the next 24 hours will be tough, but my kids are here and my family. I'll get on with my life tomorrow and I'll be fine.

Just horrible timing on the final hole and a half.

Yeah, it's hard to take, to be honest. Feel like I've got the tournament stolen from me today. You know, he's gone 3-under the last five on this course. I played the golf perfectly to win the tournament, and that's this game sometimes and that's this level.

He finished well. Yeah, the last hole was -- that was as bad a break as I've ever got. You know, especially when you're standing on the tee and you see him over that left bunker, which I would've been able to do if there was no rain, because I need a drive and a 4- or 5-iron. Probably would've given myself a better chance with a 4.

Look, it is what it is. It's a great week for me. I'm very happy where my game is at. It's a really nice week to take into The PLAYERS now.

I was going to say, the ball striking the entire day was so spot on. When did things quickly change on the front nine, and how did you adapt to what was presented to you? All of a sudden it was pretty interesting quickly.

I talk to my coach a lot about this, when we're in these situations. You know, I was ready for it. I was ready for him to get off to a bad start if that was the case, or if I got off to a good start, there was no way I was changing my game plan.

So, yeah, I just kept at it, kept at it, and before I knew was leading the tournament. It was great fun out there. It's a great event. I had an absolute blast obviously until the last couple holes. Very disappointing.

So hard to win out here. You get that chance and you don't take it, it's hard to take.

They say the breaks even out.

Hopefully in about five or six weeks in Augusta.

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