“Your husband is amazing at golf” – Shane Lowry denied $4m Arnold Palmer victory

"Unfortunately for the rest of us!"

Lowry led after the first, second and third rounds at the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational but could not live with Scottie Scheffler after the world number one found a hot putter to go with his superb approach play.

The Clara native went out, at the par-72 Bay Hill Golf Club, in the final grouping, alongside the world number one. He was stung by three early bogeys and though he fought back for a level par round, Scheffler was hard to live with. The American was 16 from 16 with putts from 10-feet, or less, on Sunday.

Following the tournament, which saw Scheffler take home the win, the red cardigan and $4 million, Lowry was picked up on TV cameras passing on his congratulations to the Scheffler family.

"Your husband is amazing at golf," Lowry told Scheffler's wife, Meredith, "unfortunately for the rest of us!"

Shane Lowry meets Storm Scheffler

This was the fourth Signature Event of 2024 with a prize fund of $20,000,000. 69 players participated in this year’s event, with 11 players missing the halfway cut on +4.

Joint leaders Shane Lowry and Scottie Scheffler played in the final group, both starting on -9. There was a two-shot swing at the first hole with Scheffler reaching -10 and a bogey for Lowry. Scheffler played his front nine in 34 shots to reach -11. The 2019 Open champion made his first birdie at nine, and trailed Scheffler by four shots heading to 10th tee.

Wyndham Clark played in the second last group with Will Zalatoris. Clark started the final round on -8 and remained on that score after nine, due to shooting 36. Scheffler stretched his lead to five shots as he reached -14 after 15 holes. The 2022 Arnold Palmer Invitational winner put one hand on the trophy as he advanced to -15 after a birdie at 16.

It was left to a race for second between Lowry and Clark, both of whom were on -9 after 16. Clark held a fantastic birdie putt at 18 to finish second on -10 and earned $2.2 million. Lowry finished on -9 after shooting a final round of 72, finishing third and earning $1.4 million. Shane Lowry is in great form heading to next week’s Players Championship after two top-five finishes in a row.

Scheffler strolled to victory as a closing par was good enough to win by five shots. A relentless performance by the world number one, which included his best putting performance on day four. Scheffler earned $4 million for winning his second Arnold Palmer Invitational and the defending champion will be tough to beat at next week’s Players Championship.

Zalatoris made two birdies on the back nine to finish -7, earning $920,000 and booking a spot for 2024 The Open at Royal Troon. Russell Henley finished tied fourth with Zalatoris on -7. Sahith Theegala and Brendan Todd finish tied sixth on -5. Andrew Putnam, Max Homa, Emiliano Grill and Byeong-hun An all made up the top 10 tied eight on -4.

Justin Thomas advanced to -7 after eight holes but played 11 holes in +3 to finish tied 12th on -3. Hideki Matsuyama started day four on -7 but shot a poor round of 76 to finish tied 12th on -3.

Rory McIlroy was within four shots of the lead starting his final round. However, he only hit three greens as he played 11 holes in +7. McIlroy made three birdies in six holes to shoot a +4 round of 76 and finish tied 21st on -1. The four-time major winner will have an opportunity at The Players Championship and Valero Texas Open to get his game in shape for Augusta.

Seamus Power finished tied 21st on -1. At DP World Tour’s Johnson Workwear Open Tom McKibbin started day four on -16. McKibbin finished tied ninth on -19 as Matteo Manassero won his first event in 11 years.

Padraig Harrington shot a final round of 65 to finish -8 and inside the top 15 at Champions Tour Cologuard Classic. Northern Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow finished eight on -11 at Blue Bay LPGA.

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