Lowry shoots 64 with old caddie Byrne and sits seven back as Hovland leads Travelers by one

Lowry’s caddie reunion pays off

Shane Lowry parted with Darren Reynolds after a three-and-a-half-year stint and recalled Dermot Byrne, his caddie of nearly a decade, for the Travelers Championship. The switch immediately clicked: the Offaly man followed rounds of 68 and 65 with a bogey-free six-under 64 on Saturday, his lowest score of the season. He hit 13 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens at TPC River Highlands, climbing into a share of fifth at 13 under.

“I've struggled to figure out what's going on because I feel like I've been playing good. My stats are decent, not amazing, but I don't feel like I'm playing much bad golf, and I'm just leaving every tournament not happy, and struggling with results.”

Lowry said he needed that one good week to kickstart his year, and the reunion with Byrne, who was available after caddying for James Nicholas at the US Open, has provided a lift. Still, he trails the leader by seven shots and acknowledged Sunday requires another strong push.

Hovland snatches the lead

Norway’s Viktor Hovland made a six-under 64 of his own, capped by a birdie on the 18th, to reach 20 under and take a one-shot overnight advantage. Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, had carded a 60 on Friday and seemed poised to stay in front before a bogey at the last left him with a 67 and 19 under total.

V. Hovland20

S. Scheffler19

P. Cantlay15

A. Bhatia15

S. Lowry13

M. Fitzpatrick13

W. Clark13

E. Cole13

V. Hovland

20 under par

S. Scheffler

19 under par

P. Cantlay

15 under par

A. Bhatia

15 under par

S. Lowry

13 under par

M. Fitzpatrick

13 under par

W. Clark

13 under par

E. Cole

13 under par

Data from the article text

Behind the top two, Patrick Cantlay (64) and Akshay Bhatia (67) sit tied third at 15 under, five off the pace. The group at 13 under alongside Lowry includes Matt Fitzpatrick, US Open champion Wyndham Clark, and Eric Cole, who salvaged a 69 with four late birdies after going three over through 12 holes.

Lowry’s progression through the week

Lowry has played each round better than the last, going 68-65-64. That steady climb has placed him in his best position for a top 10 since early March, but he has sometimes struggled to hold form on Sundays this season.

2026-06-25

68

2026-06-26

65

2026-06-27

64

Data from the article text

“I just need maybe that one good week to kind of give myself a kickstart for the rest of the year, and hopefully it's out there tomorrow.”

Other Irish golfers in action

Tom McKibbin sits in the top 10 at the DP World Tour’s Italian Open in Turin after a third-round 68 left him at 10 under, seven behind leader Eugenio Chacarra. At the LPGA’s Women’s PGA Championship, Leona Maguire is tied 49th following a 73, with South Korea’s Haeran Ryu leading by one.