Shane Lowry is right in the mix to win The Masters on Sunday after shooting a four-under 68 to put him just two shots back.
Lowry is solo fourth on nine-under after rounds of 70, 69 and 68 at Augusta National, keeping him in contention for a second major win.
The Irishman lifted the Claret Jug when he won The Open Championship in 2019, and is now looking to add the green jacket to his collection.
Lowry started his third round seven shots behind leader Rory McIlroy, but is now within touching distance of his close friend and joint-leader Cameron Young.
And key to his efforts has been the mindset that he was going to handle whatever happened, which Lowry discussed following his third round.
Shane Lowry told by his coach ‘the next shot’ is all that matters
Speaking of how important that mindset was in round three, he told Golf on CBS on Saturday: “First of all when I finished yesterday evening I thought I was in a great position, then all of a sudden I’m seven behind.
“But I knew I could go out and shoot with a number today. It’s not easy to protect the lead out here either, as you’ve seen today, a lot of guys made a run through the field.
“When you’re going out there able to attack and kind of free wheeling it a little bit it, makes it a little bit easier. So yeah I’m happy with my day.
“Obviously I have a huge highlight on my day. But even after that, I felt like I did a great job of settling down again and playing my round. And I had a great tee shot off seven, that was huge for me.
“And me and my coach have talked about just the next shot, the next shot, that’s all that matters, all that matters. And it worked today.”
Shane Lowry overjoyed after ‘crazy’ Masters hole-in-one
Such a mindset has indeed worked wonders so far for Lowry, who will need all of that mental strength to make his way to the very top of the leaderboard come the close of play.
And while there is real pressure on his shoulders, it should be less than that on joint Masters leaders McIlroy and Young.
Moreover, the Irishman has a real confidence boost after making history at Augusta, with Lowry representing the first player with multiple Masters aces.
Talking through the hole-in-one on the par-3 sixth, he said: “Yeah I mean we got there, and that back left pin is tricky. Was it 182 I think, adjusted?
“It was a little chip cut seven-iron, trying to kind of get it coming down just right of the hole and maybe bounce it up on to that top tier.
“And it came out straight at the flag and never moved. I knew it was pretty good in the air, and then when it landed and it went in…. I mean it’s wild that feeling.
“And then walking down and you have that amphitheatre there of all the people on 16 and six, it’s just crazy. I’ve done a few cool things in the game and I’m blessed to keep doing it.
“That was a special day out there today, The Masters on a Saturday in contention, making a hole-in-one, playing with one of my great friends, it’s very, very cool.”
Lowry is clearly enjoying his golf right now as he takes nothing for granted, with his Masters hole-in-one undoubtedly going to live long in his memory.
But while his career involves other iconic aces, Ryder Cup success and glory at The Open, clinching a green jacket may just top them all.
Fittingly, McIlroy would hand Lowry the green jacket should he come out on top, which may just motivate the Irishman even more on Sunday.
Read more:
Shane Lowry makes comment about Rory McIlroy after the close of day three of The Masters
Cameron Young says if he really thought he had a chance of catching Rory McIlroy at The Masters
Rory McIlroy reacts after his disappointing third round at The Masters and praises Scottie Scheffler
