Cognizant Classic: Shane Lowry collapses to let the three leads slip away

Irishman Shane Lowry says he had the Cognizant Classic “in my hand but threw it away” when he found water off the tee on the 16th and 17th holes to blow a three-shot lead.

The Ryder Cup star looked poised to cruise to victory at Palm Beach Gardens, but double bogeys on those two holes allowed Colombian Nico Echavarría to win at 17 under par.

Lowry finished two shots behind at 15 under to take second place – the same position he finished in at the Dubai Invitational earlier this year.

At Dubai Creek, Lowry made a double bogey on the final hole to finish second, and the 38-year-old admits he failed to finish off the winning moments.

“Obviously I’m very disappointed. I had the championship in my hands, and I took it away,” said Lowry, who hit the shot that retained the Ryder Cup for Europe last year.

“I would like to say I was beaten that day in Dubai. But I beat myself today. That’s twice this year now. I’m getting better at it.

“What can I say? I played unbelievably all day, and one bad shot put me down the entire 16th on the last three holes. This is going to be tough to take.”

In the last 13 times, Lowry has entered the final round of a singles tournament in the top three, winning only once – The Open in 2019.

He says missing Florida was particularly difficult because he is still waiting for his first win against his four-year-old daughter.

“I just wanted it for her. I didn’t care about anything else. I wanted it so bad. Just seeing her little red hair falling on the 18th green would be the most special thing in the world,” he said.

“I thought I had it. I thought I was going to win.”

Four birdies plus an eagle on the 10th had Lowry cruising to victory before collapsing on the final three holes.

Echavarría, 31, capitalized by carding five birdies in a five-under 66 that secured his third PGA Tour win.

Americans Taylor Moore and Austin Smotherman tied for second place alongside Lowry with a 15-under total.