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Shane Lowry bounced back from a disappointing second round to shoot three-under on Saturday to return to the mix at the Players Championship.
The 2019 Open champion found himself in the top three after his first round 68 at TPC Sawgrass, however a 74 of two over par on Friday saw Lowry break out of the top 20 heading into the weekend.
Lowry started the day off the front foot and made an opening birdie before adding another in the seventh to swing to two-low, four-low for the tournament.
Two more birdies and a bogey in the 15th saw Lowry post an impressive 69 to finish the day five under par in a 16th place entry into the final round.
Clara’s man would still have to go very low on Sunday for a chance to compete for the unofficial fifth major, as he is still eight shots behind the leader, currently held by Lee Westwood, who is at 13. under par, two free throws by Bryson de Chambeau.
Westwood faces another battle Sunday with DeChambeau after the Englishman finished second to the American at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last weekend.
The former world number one, who is looking to become the first Englishman to win the event, has been rock solid so far and did not drop a shot in a four-under-par round of 68 on Saturday.
After shooting every pair in the first nine, the 47-year-old started taking a chance by coming home with birdies at 10, 12, 16 and, most memorably, the fearsome 17.
DeChambeau loaded a 67, making his birdie hat-trick play from 10 to go to 11 under.
The 27-year-old praised Westwood, saying: “His handling is impeccable, his iron game is impeccable and he putsts when he needs to. Fortunately for me, last week I was able to get the job done, and I think tomorrow is going to be an incredible battle. “
American Justin Thomas shares third place with compatriot Doug Ghim at ten under par, while Spaniard Jon Rahm is currently tied for fifth alongside Englishman Paul Casey and American Brian Harman.
Classification table
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