Shane Lowry was denied a chance of winning the 2022 Honda Classic by the rain, of all things.
Austrian Sepp Straka was masterful on the back nine and was a worthy winner of his first PGA tournament. However, the Clara man will be asking himself what might have been.
Lowry lead the tournament for most of Sunday, after Daniel Berger - leader after three rounds - imploded. Lowry was really cooking on the opening holes.
Here comes @ShaneLowryGolf. 🎯
He sticks it to 3 feet to get within 1. pic.twitter.com/EXyG3nF2kn— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 27, 2022
Shane Lowry denied by weather
However, just after Shane Lowry spurned a chance for birdie on 16, Mother Nature intervened.
HEADS UP! Rain is heading towards PGA National where the final round of the Honda Classic is taking place! @CBS12 #FLwx pic.twitter.com/39rIxTPsRU
— Jennifer Collins (@JenCollinsWx) February 27, 2022
Pouring rain at the very end #hondaclassic #golf #sports #live #livefeed #liveatream #livestreaming #livesteamer #golfing pic.twitter.com/9tuDH2oXsX
— Ira on Sports 🎙 (@iraonsports) February 27, 2022
Straka unleashed a massive tee shot on the par 5 18th, leaving the green reachable with his second shot. Around the same time, Lowry was completing a lovely up-and-down to save par and remain tied atop the leaderboard.
However, as Lowry was handing back his putter, the heavens opened. The deluge no doubt impacted Lowry's drive on 18, which ended up in the rough not far from the penalty boundary.
"That's the game unfortunately," said Lowry.
"I played the golf - good enough golf, I felt to win the tournament. That bad weather came in just as we were hitting our tee shot on 18, which was as bad a break as I've got in a while.
"It's a tough one to take. There is obviously a lot of positives to take from the whole event. You know, probably played some of best golf my whole career this week I feel around a very tough golf course."
As the rain softened, Straka hit a perfect iron shot and then two-putted to birdie and move to -10.
Lowry battled through the conditions but could only manage par on 18 and finished the tournament in second place. This was despite a bogey-free fourth round and three consecutive rounds of 67.
"It's hard to take," Lowry added.
"Feel like I've got the tournament stolen from me today. You know, he's gone 3-under the last five on this course. I played the golf perfectly to win the tournament, and that's this game sometimes and that's this level.
"He finished well. Yeah, the last hole was -- that was as bad a break as I've ever got. You know, especially when you're standing on the tee and you see him over that left bunker, which I would've been able to do if there was no rain, because I need a drive and a 4- or 5-iron. Probably would've given myself a better chance with a 4.
"Look, it is what it is. It's a great week for me. I'm very happy where my game is at. It's a really nice week to take into The Players now."
A truly memorable Irish sporting day was denied. For finishing second, Shane Lowry wins a mere $872,000.
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