Lowry and McIlroy upbeat for Rome and looking for final round fireworks at Wentworth
Rory McIlroy hands his caddie a putter on the eighth hole during a practice round before the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club on Monday, May 15, 2023 in Rochester, New York. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/PGA of America)
Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy see signs at Wentworth that their games are right on track to peak in the Ryder Cup in two weeks.
Lowry can’t wait for Rome and even though a third-round 67 left seven shots behind Swedish sensation Ludvig Aberg heading into the final round of his BMW PGA Championship defence, he’s not ruling out making a run at the title.
“I remember one year I was seven behind going into the final round and I was leading standing on the seventh tee,” Lowry told RTÉ Radio.
“That's just what this course can do. It's not an easy course to win from the front and there's a lot of early chances out there. So I'll be in the pack and hopefully chasing down whoever is leading.”
As for McIlroy, the world number two made seven birdies in a 67 and while he’s been working some kinks out of his game on the range, he’s looking to finish on a high on Sunday.
“That's where I'm at — making seven birdies and feeling like I'm still not really on my game,” McIlroy said after a 67 left him 35th and ten shots behind the impressive Aberg on six-under.
“You know, it's not far away. As I said the Harry out there, I feel like if I was really on, there's a really low one in me. So hopefully tomorrow I can go out there and get off to a fast start and try to improve on the score that I shot today and end the week on a positive note.”
Both men are coming off contrasting summers and looking to peak on Rome.
Lowry felt his iron play let him down during the meat of the season but after getting his wildcard from skipper Luke Donald, he moved up a gear with his tie for third in the Irish Open at The K Club.
“One thing I'm very happy with over the last few weeks is just as how well I’ve played and regardless of what happens tomorrow, I feel like I'm going into the Ryder Cup with confidence in my game,” Lowry told RTE’s Greg Allen.
“It's always a great place to be because it’s a place where if you are not too confident in your game, you can get found out. I’m not going to be like that. I’m pretty happy. And I'm very excited about it.”
He added: "I said to the rookies the other day, you need to remember these weeks because these are the best. This is what it's all about.
"And this is the reason you go to these mad places all around the world and compete and have these lonely times and your tough times.
“The reason being for moments like two weeks' time in Rome. I'm not saying that I'm just happy to be going and happy to be there. I'm going and I want to win and that's it. That's all that matters to me.”
As for his game, Lowry will likely spend some time next week getting his short game sharp for Rome.
“To be honest, a part of my game I'm not really happy at the minute is my chipping and I feel like I've had a few very sloppy chips this week,” he said.
“I've left a good few shots out there. The rest of my game feels really good. I said to (caddie) Darren (Reynolds) on the 18th green, if I just give myself chances, I feel like I'm rolling the ball really well on the greens.
"I’m driving the ball well off the tee and my iron play over the last few weeks has been back to what it normally is.
“I feel like that's what's let me down over the summer, my iron play, and I'm pretty happy with where it is now.
“Look, I wish there were more tournaments coming up. But I'm very happy that my game's coming into form with the Ryder Cup in two weeks’ time.”
While he’s only been a professional for three months, Aberg (23) has a chance to win in back-to-back starts after carding a six-under 66 to lead by two shots on 16-under from Tommy Fleetwood and Scotland’s Conor Syme.
Fleetwood shot 67 and Syme a 65 while England’s Callum Shinkwin fired a bogey-free 64 to share fourth with Ryan Fox and Aaron Rai, just three shots of the lead.
Masters champion Jon Rahm lurking a shot further back after a 66 and while McIlroy is tied for 35th on six-under, he’s looking to finish on a high.
"It was better,” McIlroy said.
“I felt like I showed a few positive signs, iron play was good. Hit some wedges really close, drove the ball probably still not as well as I would have liked. But overall, it was a solid day and certainly a step in the right direction.”
As for what part of his game needs work in the light of his disappointing Irish Open finish and opening rounds of 72 and 71 at Wentworth, he wasn’t panicking.
“It's just a matter of getting comfortable with the shots that I'm trying to hit,” McIlroy said.
"I can hit all the shots, it's just a matter of getting comfortable with it and just really simple basic things like alignment and more the thought process before I step into a shot, just stuff I haven't really practised a whole lot over the last few weeks.
“So I just made more of a commitment today to be a little clearer in my head of what I wanted to do with each shot that I played and you know, it was better.”
