Seamus Energy and Shane Lowry did not get the outcomes they needed, however they return to motion this week realizing their video games are proper the place they want them to be to get again within the winner’s circle in 2026.
Whereas Lowry was disconsolate after making a 72nd-hole double bogey that opened the door for Nacho Elvira within the Dubai Invitational, he appears to have the sport to finish his three-year victory wait sooner fairly than later as he stays in Dubai for the Hero Dubai Desert Traditional.
Determined for a win that may safe his tenuous PGA Tour standing, Energy tied for thirty first behind Chris Gotterup within the Sony Open in Hawaii, and whereas he had some struggles on the greens in Saturday’s excessive winds, he heads to The American Categorical at La Quinta on a excessive after closing with a six-under 64 final night time.
Simply as within the opening spherical, the West Waterford man was good on the greens at a breezy Waialae Nation Membership.
He made seven birdies and ran in 121-feet of putts to complete on six beneath.
He additionally ended the week ranked fourth for footage holed and eighth for his method play, which solely bodes effectively for this week’s doubtless birdie-fest in California, the place world primary Scottie Scheffler returns to motion.
The title in Hawaii went to Gotterup, who was third behind Scheffler in The Open at Royal Portrush final 12 months.
Like Energy, he closed with a six-under 64 to say a two-shot victory and win for the third season in a row to maneuver previous Lowry from twenty eighth to seventeenth on the planet.
Gotterup took benefit of a collapse by 54-hole chief Davis Riley, who shot 71 to tie for sixth, and gained by two photographs on 16 beneath par from Ryan Gerard.
“I simply felt like this week I used to be in a very good state of mind, simply joyful to be right here,” Gotterup stated. “I felt like I used to be answerable for my mind, which is a very powerful factor. I drove it nice and made some putts when it mattered.”
Gotterup gained the Genesis Scottish Open final 12 months by outplaying Rory McIlroy, and gained the opposite-field ONEflight Myrtle Seashore Traditional in his rookie season.
As for Lowry, he is nonetheless winless as a person since holding off McIlroy and Jon Rahm to win the 2022 BMW PGA.
However he insisted at Dubai Creek that he should mud himself off and regroup for this week’s Dubai Desert Traditional.
“That was a catastrophe – that is what that was,” stated Lowry, who put a 9 iron in a bunker on the final earlier than discovering the creek along with his third en path to a closing six that opened the door for Elvira and left him tied for third with McIlroy, who bogeyed the final.
“What are you able to do? It’s important to simply be taught from it and transfer on, lads.
“This sport is nuts. I’ve simply began my 18th season on tour, and I will by no means determine it out. I attempted my greatest, did every part I may and hit the flawed membership up the final. And that price me a play-off.
“I used to be simply attempting to hit a comfortable 9. If you happen to hit a wedge on the flag and it comes out a little bit comfortable, it goes proper into the water.
“In hindsight, I most likely would have been higher off doing that since you get it up and down from there. However the bunker shot was stunning – it isn’t ok.”
He added, “I must be profitable that, however I did not, and that is going to harm for a day or two. I have never gained in a number of years. It is onerous to recover from the road.
“I do know this isn’t the most important match on the planet. However you’ve got nonetheless bought to beat Rory McIlroy down the stretch. I did that. I simply gave it to Nacho on the finish.
“It’s kind of of a catastrophe, and I will lick my wounds and transfer on and get going for subsequent week.”
