Lowry targets big finish after slow day on slick greens at Erin Hills
Shane Lowry waves after putting on the 18th hole during the third round of the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis. on Saturday, June 17, 2017. (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)
Shane Lowry suffered a frustrating day with the putter on moving day in the US Open but remained hopeful he could still turn an average week into a good one at Erin Hills.
The Offaly man had 35 putts in a one-over par 73 to end the day 14 shots off the pace on two-over and ranked 57th of 68 for strokes gained putting.
"Quite frustrating," Lowry said after missing six putts between eight and 10 feet, five or them for birdies, between the ninth and the 16th.
"Golf was so good but I had about six or seven eight footers if I’d holed three, four or five of those I’d have had a different day," he added after finally holing from 11 feet for his lone birdie at the 18th.
"Nice to hole that one on the last and have my first birdie of the day, but it was a good day, I felt like I played lovely with Steve (Stricker) in his hometown. I enjoyed it."
Shane Lowry watches his tee shot on the first hole during the third round of the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis. on Saturday, June 17, 2017. (Copyright USGA/Fred Vuich)
Lowry failed to make a fast start and then missed everything he looked at on the greens after three-putting from eight feet for a bogey at the ninth after opening with eight pars.
"The three-putt on nine was silly on my behalf, other than that it was all good.
"I had eight feet for birdie and seven feet coming back for par.
"We were told on the first tee the greens were the same speed, but I'm not too sure they were.
"The chances I did have early on and middle of the round were all difficult putts, all downhill, but when you are holing those.....
"I did hit a lot of great putts. It is not like I was putting badly. I hit a great putt on 15, 17, decent putt on 14. Just felt like they weren’t going in.
Shane Lowry watches his tee shot on the first hole during the third round of the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis. on Saturday, June 17, 2017. (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)
"The good thing is if I can shoot four or five-under tomorrow, I can have a good week.
"I need to do some wedges and some putting and then go back and rest up for tomorrow."
As for Erin Hills, Lowry would love to have seen the course play firmer and faster.
"I think it has been disappointing way the course has played," he said. "It would have been nice if it played firmer but that’ts the way it is after a lot of rain.
"The course played easy but the pins were tricky or on slopes so I feel that at two-over for the tournament, it's definitely could be what might have been sort of thing."
As for his day with local hero Stricker, 50, he loved the atmosphere with thousands cheering their man onto every greens as he shot 69 and moved up to tied 30th on two-under.
"He still hits it alright and he is not short for 50, he hits it good and obviously he putted nicely," Lowry said. "We had a good time and he had his wife on the bag. It was a nice round of golf."
Steve Stricker, right, shakes hands with Shane Lowry, left, on the first hole during the third round of the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis. on Saturday, June 17, 2017. (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)
