McIlroy and Lowry Stay in the Hunt at Zurich Classic with Final-Round Charge

McIlroy and Lowry five shots behind leaders at Zurich Classic after thrilling third round

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have kept their hopes alive at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, staying within touching distance of the leaders after an action-packed third round that had a little bit of everything — birdies, an eagle, a bogey, and even a 90-minute lightning delay.

As the tournament heads into its final day, McIlroy and Lowry sit at 22-under-par, just five strokes behind the American duo of Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak, who surged into the lead with a dazzling round of 61. But make no mistake — with the way McIlroy and Lowry finished their third round, there’s a real sense that they are gearing up for a big Sunday charge.

Lightning delays, late eagles, and McIlroy magic at the Zurich Classic

The day began with the Northern Irish-Irish pair knowing they had work to do. Starting six shots adrift, they came out firing, quickly gathering momentum with a flurry of birdies on the front nine. Lowry, looking sharp with the putter in hand, even snagged an eagle at the par-five seventh — a major boost that set the tone for their round.

By the time they made the turn, McIlroy and Lowry had carded six birdies and an eagle, putting them right back in the conversation. They kept the gas pedal down on the back nine, adding another four birdies to their scorecard.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. A rare stumble came on the par-three 17th, where they suffered a bogey — the kind of mistake that can stick in the mind, especially in team formats where momentum is everything.

Then came the lightning delay, throwing a wrench into the rhythm of the round. A 90-minute wait could have cooled the pair’s momentum. Instead, it set the stage for one of the highlights of the day.

Returning to the course with one hole left to complete, McIlroy faced a daunting 30-foot eagle putt. But the Masters champion showed his class, calmly rolling it into the heart of the cup to close out a brilliant round of 61.

Speaking afterwards, McIlroy admitted that the putt was the last thing on his mind during the delay.

“The last thing on my mind during the delay was the putt,” he said, grinning. “Then once I got back out there, I concentrated on it, made sure I did what I needed to do — and it was just a bonus for it to go in.”

Lowry was equally delighted with the finish.

“I was pretty happy to have Rory go out and eagle the last there,” he said. “It makes dinner taste nicer and kind of puts us in a great position going into the final round.”

Griffin and Novak flying high, but McIlroy and Lowry still lurking at Zurich Classic

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry face five shot final round deficit in bid to retain Zurich Classic of New Orleans

While McIlroy and Lowry grabbed their share of headlines, it was Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin who truly stole the show on Saturday. Their bogey-free round of 61 catapulted them into the outright lead at 27-under-par, three clear of their nearest challengers.

Hot on their heels are Jake Knapp and Frankie Capan III, who fired a sizzling 60, along with Japan’s exciting young duo, Ryo Hisatsune and Takumi Kanaya, who matched McIlroy and Lowry’s 61.

Overnight leaders Isaiah Salinda and Kevin Velo slipped back a little after a 66 but remain firmly in the mix alongside Danish twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, who put together a tidy 64 to stay within striking distance.

But with the final round switching to alternate shot — a notoriously challenging format where even minor mistakes are magnified — anything could still happen.

For McIlroy and Lowry, the equation is simple: they’ll need to stay aggressive but smart, picking their spots to attack while avoiding costly errors.

McIlroy and Lowry eye late charge at Zurich Classic finale

McIlroy and Lowry still six adrift at Zurich Classic

As the tournament builds toward a thrilling conclusion, the experience and firepower of McIlroy and Lowry could be crucial. Having already tasted success here as a team (they are, after all, the defending champions), they know exactly what’s required to pull off a Sunday comeback.

McIlroy, fresh off his emotional Masters win, looks to be riding a wave of confidence, while Lowry’s sharp iron play and clutch putting have been key assets throughout the week.

The big unknown will be how the weather behaves. Saturday’s lightning delay was a reminder that Mother Nature can have a say, and any further interruptions could play havoc with momentum.

Still, one thing is clear — McIlroy and Lowry are not going down without a fight. And if Saturday’s late eagle is anything to go by, there could be a few fireworks left in their bag.

Whatever happens, Sunday’s final round at the Zurich Classic promises to be a must-watch. With a packed leaderboard, a tricky format, and world-class players chasing glory, it’s set up perfectly for a dramatic finish.

Could McIlroy and Lowry pull off the comeback and successfully defend their title? If they keep having fun — as McIlroy put it — and keep delivering the kind of moments we saw late on Saturday, don’t bet against it.