Lowry third in Japan as G-Mac struggles on greens

No champagne but Toshinori Muto didn’t care after winning the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament by four shots with a closing 63.Shane Lowry finished tied for third but Graeme McDowell ended up a disappointing 38th as Japan’s Toshinori Muto won the 54-hole Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Japan.

Lowry had 25 putts in a three under 68, carding 15 pars and birdies at the second, ninth and 13th as he finished alongside Ricky Barnes, five shots off the pace on seven under.

The Offaly man earned ￥8,700,000 (€83,640) for his efforts as he matched his third place finish on his Japan Golf Tour debut in the same event two years ago.

“Another solid week here in Japan,” he wrote on Twitter. “3 under today for -7 total. Tied 3rd is always decent. Love this place and tournament.”

If Lowry was clinical on the greens, it was the opposite for McDowell, who had two three-putts and 36 putts in total as he carded a four over 75 featuring five bogeys and a solitary birdie at the par-five 18th.

McDowell, who earned ￥690,000 (€6,633) in Japan, will be hoping for a more lucrative week when he teams up with Rory McIlroy in the $7.5 million Omega Missions Hills World Cup on Hainan Island in China next week.

“Disappointing week on the greens this week,” McDowell tweeted. “Struggled with my speed. Ball striking and short game are right there. Bring on the World Cup.”

Title winner Muto closed with a superb, eight under par 63 to win by four strokes from Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in an event reduced to 54 holes after Saturday’s play was washed out.