Shane Lowry showcased his exceptional iron-play once again at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches, Florida. However, his putting didn’t quite match up, leaving him eight shots behind the leader, Austin Smotherman.
Lowry, hailing from Offaly, had a mixed start with three bogeys and two birdies on his front nine at PGA National. He managed to finish strong with a two-under on the back nine, carding a one-under 70 overall.
Despite hitting 14 greens in regulation and topping the stats for strokes gained on approach, his putter was cold, making just two putts from beyond six feet. Improvement on the Bermuda greens will be key for Lowry moving forward.
Meanwhile, Seamus Power ended his day with a level par 71, tying for 52nd place, nine strokes off Smotherman’s lead. Smotherman was on fire, sinking 132 feet of putts in a bogey-free round of nine birdies, finishing with a stunning 62. Colombia’s Nico Echavarria was right on his heels.
Switching gears to the DP World Tour, South Africa’s Dean Burmester thrived in front of record crowds, shooting a five-under-par 65 at the Investec South African Open Championship in Stellenbosch. Sharing the lead with Spain’s Alejandro del Rey, England’s Joe Dean, and Finland’s Oliver Lindell, Burmester was energized by the atmosphere. “What a vibe,” he remarked, after notching seven birdies.
The leaders held a slim advantage over a group including South Africa’s Herman Loubser and Italy’s Francesco Laporta. Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed had a challenging start with a 71, leaving him just outside the projected cut.
In a concerning development, Italy’s Andrea Pavan had to withdraw after a serious accident, falling down an elevator shaft at his accommodation. He is reportedly stable in the hospital, though details remain limited due to medical confidentiality.