Lowry and Scheffler chasing ambitious Thomas in RBC Heritage
Shane Lowry of Ireland plays a stroke from the No. 1 tee during practice round 3 prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Wednesday, April 09, 2025.
Shane Lowry and Scottie Scheffler were stuck in neutral as Justin Thomas edged closer to ending his three-year PGA Tour drought in the RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island.
Lowry shot a one-under 70 to go into the weekend tied for 31st, eight shots behind the Kentucky native on four-under, as Scheffler also shot one-under to lie four shots behind the leader in a tie for sixth.
Thomas hasn't won on the PGA Tour since he captured his second PGA Championship in 2022, and he admitted he's been trying too hard to get over the line.
"I'd say the majority of it has just been pressing and trying too hard," Thomas said after adding a two-under 69 to his course record-equalling 61 to lead by two shots from Si Woo Kim and Russell Henley on 12-under at Harbor Town Golf Links.
"I think it's just that's something I feel like I did so, so well there for a couple of years is I just let tournaments come to me and I just trusted in my ability.
"That's just really been my key this week is I'm just trying to really trust my game and commit to what I'm doing."
As one of Zach Johnson's wildcards, Thomas underperformed in the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, getting just 1.5 points from four matches in a 16.5-11.5 defeat.
He failed to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs last year and didn't make the US Presidents Cup team.
But after getting pipped down the stretch by Viktor Hovland in the Valspar Championship last month, he's determined to win again soon and make Keegan Bradley's team for Bethpage in New York in September.
"I'm kind of excited about playing (and) a little pissed off that I didn't get picked for the Presidents Cup team," Thomas said.
"I don't like feel like I deserved to, but internally I always feel like I'm going to be a great addition."
He added: "I have a lot of faith and confidence in what I can do. So I just need to let it happen."
On the LPGA Tour, Leona Maguire shot a second successive, four-under 68 to share 20th at halfway in the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro in her last start before the season's first major.
The Co Cavan star birdied the seventh and bogeyed the eighth before making four birdies in a row from the 11th at El Caballero Country Club to get to eight-under-par.
She's just five strokes behind Sweden's Ingrid Lindblad, who shot 63 to share the lead with South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai (68) on 13-under.
Maguire is looking to hit top form for next week's opening major, the Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in Texas next week.
The Ballyconnell star was 23rd in The Woodlands in 2023 but missed the cut last year.
