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Ireland’s Shane Lowry made a strong statement at the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, after shooting an impressive 8-under-par 63 in the third round. His performance propelled him into a share of the lead with Austin Smotherman heading into Sunday’s final round at PGA National’s Champion Course.
Shane Lowry’s Third Round Highlights
Lowry, the Offaly golfer, started his round by going 6-under through the first ten holes. He added birdies on the 17th and 18th to finish a spectacular round. “I holed a few nice putts at the start, then started hitting the ball really well,” Lowry said. “Birdieing the last two was kind of the icing on the cake.”
The calm conditions helped Lowry maintain consistency and convert multiple scoring opportunities. His 13-under 200 total tied him with Smotherman for the lead, setting up an exciting final day.
Shane Lowry and Austin Smotherman Battle for the Lead
Austin Smotherman, the second-round leader, ended the day with a birdie on the 18th, narrowly missing an eagle from inside 16 feet. Smotherman is pursuing his first PGA Tour victory after missing the cut in three of his four events earlier in 2026.
“Realizing it’s not me versus him is key,” Smotherman said, preparing to play in the final pairing with Lowry.
Other Contenders Eyeing Shane Lowry
Taylor Moore and Colombia’s Nico Echavarria remain close behind, just one stroke back at 12 under after rounds of 67 and 66. Echavarria, who played a bogey-free round, is looking for his third PGA Tour title. “I knew that a course like this fits me well,” he said. Moore has been consistent with 67s in every round, aiming to stay in contention.
Jimmy Stanger shot 65 to reach 11 under, while Ricky Castillo and Canada’s A.J. Ewart sit at 10 under. Stanger, returning from elbow surgery, expressed gratitude for being back on tour: “It’s really good to be back out here and playing some good golf.”
Castillo, seeking his first PGA Tour win, emphasized the course’s difficulty. “This is a very tricky golf course. You have to control your golf ball and stay patient. Trying to get greedy can really backfire,” he said.
Defending champion Joe Highsmith struggled, shooting 76 to sit at 5 over.
Shane Lowry’s Strategy for Sunday
Lowry highlighted the importance of staying close to the leaders and watching their strategies. “If the conditions are like this on Sunday, there are low scores out there, so someone could come from the pack,” he said.
With Lowry and Smotherman tied at 13 under, the final round promises excitement. Fans can expect a competitive finish at PGA National’s Champion Course, where calm weather could help produce even lower scores.
Tee Time Adjustments
Due to potential weather concerns later in the afternoon, tee times for the third round were moved up several hours, with players starting from both the first and tenth tees.
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