Future Ryder Cup pairing?
2017 has been a fairly disappointing year for Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell. After missing out on the Ryder Cup last year, neither of them have really kicked on and produced the kind of golf we’d expect from them.
This week has given us hope that they’ll turn it around in time for next year’s Ryder Cup though as the Irish pair shot a brilliant second-round 64 on Saturday night to go into a tie for the lead in the QBE Shootout in Florida.
The 54-hole stroke play event isn’t an official PGA Tour event but has still attracted a stellar field including major champions Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner, Zach Johnson and Bubba Watson.
But Lowry and McDowell are doing Ireland proud, finishing eight-under-par on the greensomes on day two. Greensomes is an alternate shot format, similar to the foursomes in the Ryder Cup, only both players tee off at every hole before the players choose the better ball to complete the hole.
Together, Lowry and McDowell were in sparkling form, picking up eight shots to take them to 18-under for the tournament and into a share of the lead with Steve Stricker and Sean O’Hair. The Irish duo are the only team out of the dozen competing yet to drop a shot over the first two rounds.
Offaly man Lowry showed a magnificent touch with his irons on the 15th, knocking it stone-dead for a certain birdie. If he keeps up this kind of form, 2018 is going to be a big year for the 2009 Irish Open champion. McDowell, a four-time Ryder Cup player, is looking to make it to France next year as well after missing out on Darren Clarke’s team last year.
A DART! 🎯
From 5 back to 2 ahead. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/7ziT6IpHXj
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 9, 2017
Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn would have been watching with interest.
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