Shane Lowry faced a challenging day at the Memorial Tournament, struggling with his putting despite setting himself up for success on the crucial 18th hole. After a disappointing round of 73, Lowry found himself tied for seventh place at two-under, trailing leader Scottie Scheffler by six shots. His two-putt average per green placed him 54th among the 57 players who made the cut, highlighting a frustrating day on the greens.
Lowry had shown promise earlier in the tournament, leading the field in strokes gained approach for the week, notably excelling in the first and third rounds. Unfortunately, his difficulties continued as he experienced another round filled with missed opportunities. After a series of pars, he suffered a setback with a bogey on the par-3 eighth hole and struggled with three-putts, ultimately recording two bogeys on the 13th and 14th. He managed to steady himself with a birdie on the 15th, but his missed chances on the 12th and 17th added to his disappointment, leaving him with just a tap-in birdie on the final hole—a stark contrast to his frustrations throughout the day.
Scheffler, meanwhile, overcame his own putting trials, displaying patience which paid off as he concluded his round with four birdies in the last five holes, finishing with a score of 68 to take the lead at eight-under. Reflecting on his performance, Scheffler noted that even par at Muirfield Village would have signified a solid score given the conditions, emphasizing his steady play despite some near misses.
36-hole leader Ben Griffin initially surged ahead, building a four-shot lead at ten-under before encountering a string of bogeys that marred his round. A critical par on 13 helped him regain momentum, and he briefly led again with birdies on 14 and 15, but a final bogey saw him drop to second place with a score of seven-under. Nick Taylor holds third at five-under, while Sepp Straka, Jordan Spieth, and Keegan Bradley remain in contention, needing strong rounds to make a move from three-under.
The tournament promises an exciting final day as players compete for the title, with Lowry looking to bounce back and capitalize on his approach game to regain his form. This atmosphere of competitiveness highlights the unpredictable nature of golf, where a single round can change everything. Fans will be eager to see if any players, including Lowry, can make a comeback as they face the final stretch of the tournament.