Shane Lowry matched the lowest round in Major Championship history with a stunning 62 to move right into contention on day three of the US PGA Championship.
The Irishman started the day eight shots off the lead and had said after a second consecutive 69 on Friday at Valhalla Golf Club that he was happy with his position considering he did not feel he was playing his best.
He certainly found his best stuff in round three, carding six birdies on the front nine to turn in 29 and holing two lengthy putts on the 13th and 14th to join the lead.
Another gain on the 17th meant a birdie on the par-five last would make him the first man to card a 61 in a Major but after finding rough off the tee he had to lay up and missed his 12-footer for birdie.
"It was pretty good," he said of his round. "I enjoyed it. I enjoyed every minute of it, obviously.
"Probably the most disappointed anyone can ever be shooting 62. I knew what was at stake.
"I just really wanted to hole it. Probably too much. I kind of stood back and allowed myself to enjoy the moment. It was a pretty cool moment to have. It would have been a pretty cool moment to kind of seal the deal and do it.
"But at the end of the day, I knew even if I didn't do it that I done what I needed to do today, and I'm pretty happy with that.
"I went out there with a job to do today and my job was to try to get myself back in the tournament and I definitely did that."
The 37-year-old has already enjoyed a remarkable career, winning his home open as an amateur on the DP World Tour and adding a Major at the 2019 Open Championship, two Rolex Series titles and a World Golf Championships crown to his CV.
Shane Lowry appreciation tweet ☘️
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 18, 2024
Today’s 62 ties the record for the lowest round in Major Championship history.
#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/e8dOgTN2iR
He has also made two Ryder Cup appearances, being on the winning European team last year in Rome, and he now joins Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele with a Major 62, with Schauffele having achieved the feat for the second time on Thursday.
Lowry put an approach to 14 feet at the second and that kickstarted a run of four birdies as he surged up the leaderboard.
A tee-shot to similar range at the third was followed by a 19-foot birdie on the fourth and a beautiful approach to the fifth before Lowry made a two-putt gain on the seventh.
A 17-foot putt on the ninth saw him turn in 29 and a long, snaking putt on the 13th maintained his momentum, with another putt from over 30 feet on the next handing him a share of the lead.
I've been fortunate to do it before and to win one is pretty good but to win multiple, you're kind of a bit of a different level. It would mean a lot to me tomorrow
An approach to six feet on the 17th meant that history beckoned with a birdie on the 18th and while he could not achieve the perfect finish, he was at 13 under and right in the mix for a second Major title.
"You come here the start of every Major Championship and you know what it means to win one of them," Lowry added.
"I've been fortunate to do it before and to win one is pretty good but to win multiple, you're kind of a bit of a different level. It would mean a lot to me tomorrow.
"I'll just go out and give my best. I go out and fight hard. I've been in this position a few times before, learned from Oakmont and tournaments like that and brought that into Portrush and hopefully I can bring some of that with me tomorrow and just give it everything."
