Ireland’s Shane Lowry held off the challenge of three major champions to claim the biggest victory of his career at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Beginning the final round two adrift of former US Open winners Justin Rose and Jim Furyk and with two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson moving into contention, Lowry posted four birdies and produced a series of impressive recovery shots on his way to a four-under 66 and a two-shot win at Firestone.World number one Rory McIlroy says he has recovered from injury and is ready to defend his US PGA Championship title this week. The 26-year-old suffered a “total rupture” of ligaments in his left ankle in July while playing football. He then missed The Open, but will play the last major of the year, at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. The Northern Irishman said: “To play golf, it’s 100%. To go back on a soccer pitch, it wouldn’t be quite ready.” Also 2012 US PGA winner, Rich Beem says he can see no reason why Rory McIlroy can’t return from injury to secure victory at the US PGA Championship.
