| -10 S Straka (Aus); -9 S Lowry (Ire); -8 K Kitayama; -7 D Berger (US); -4 G Woodland (US), A Noren (Swe) |
| Selected others: Level B Koepka (US); +2 I Poulter (Eng); +3 R Fowler (US), L Westwood (Eng); +4 D Willett (Eng) |
| Leaderboard |
Shane Lowry missed out on his first win since the 2019 Open Championship as he finished one stroke behind Sepp Straka at the Honda Classic.
The Irishman needed to birdie the par-five 18th to force a play-off, but dragged his approach left and failed to make the putt in a rainy finish at the Champions Course at PGA National.
Straka carded a four-under-par 66 to clinch his first victory.
The 28-year-old becomes the first Austrian to win on the PGA Tour.
Lowry started the final round five shots adrift of runaway leader Daniel Berger, but while the American faltered to a four-over-par 74, Lowry birdied his first, fourth and 11th holes to take control.
However, Straka finished with three birdies in the last five holes to extend 34-year-old Lowry’s wait for a first win since lifting the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush.
“It’s hard to take, to be honest,” said Lowry. “Feel like I’ve got the tournament stolen from me today.
“I played the golf perfectly to win the tournament, and that’s this game sometimes and that’s this level.
“That was as bad a break as I’ve ever got.”
Lowry did climb 15 spots to 35 in the world rankings with Sunday’s runner-up finish and now has five consecutive top-25 finishes worldwide.
After an even-par 70 in his opening round, Lowry posted three consecutive 67s at the demanding course.
“Look, it is what it is. It’s a great week for me,” he said. “I’m very happy where my game is at. It’s a really nice week to take into The Players now.
“Like the next 24 hours will be tough, but my kids are here and my family. I’ll get on with my life tomorrow and I’ll be fine.”
