Shane Lowry blew a three-shot advantage heading into the final three holes to gift Nico Echavarria a third career PGA TOUR victory at the Cognizant Classic.
The 38-year-old Irishman came into the final round at Palm Beach Gardens tied at the top of the leaderboard alongside American Austin Smotherman but it was Lowry who looked in control with four birdies and an eagle through 13 holes to give himself a three-shot advantage entering the final stages of the tournament.
However, disaster struck when Lowry sent consecutive tee shots way right on 16 and 17, finding water on both occasions. As a result, the Ryder Cup star had to settle for consecutive double-bogeys which shattered his hopes of claiming what would have been a fourth career PGA TOUR win.
Colombia’s Echavarria seized on Lowry’s disaster finish by sinking a clutch birdie putt on 17 and a par on 18 to card an impressive five-under 66, end on 17 under, and secure his first triumph on the circuit since the 2024 ZOZO Championship.
“It was a blessing today,” Echavarria said. “I didn’t have my best off the tee, but I was able to manage.
“I had some good breaks. To win out here, sometimes you have to have good breaks – if you’re not Scottie Scheffler that hits it every time in the perfect place! So I’m happy with how it went.”
Reflecting on his late collapse, Lowry said: “I’m obviously extremely disappointed. I had the tournament in my hands, and I threw it away.
“What more can I say? That’s twice this year now so far. I’m getting good at it.
“I played unbelievable all day, and one bad shot on 16 completely threw me for the last three holes. It’s never happened to me before.
“I said to [my caddie] Darren (Reynolds), how do I feel like this now when I went through what I did last September in Bethpage and got through that fine.
“But I beat myself today. I hit two really bad shots at the wrong time, and that’s what this course does to you.”
He finished the event in a tie for second alongside American duo Smotherman and Taylor Moore on 15 under while another American, Ricky Castillo, placed fifth two shots further back.
What is the next event?
The next event on the PGA TOUR schedule is the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard taking place between 5-8 March at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Florida.