Shane Lowry surges on Sunday to win BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth

Shane Lowry sensationally won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth by one shot from Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy, without making a bogey all week.

Lowry's win is his sixth on the DP World Tour and he becomes the first player from the Republic of Ireland to win the flagship event since Harry Bradshaw in 1958.

Having made four top-10s at the event in 13 appearances, the 35-year-old has earned his first victory since winning his maiden major title at The Open Championship in 2019.

He becomes the first bogey-free winner on the DP World Tour in a shortened event since Alexander Levy won the Portugal Masters over 36 holes in 2014.

"I'm so happy. I can't put it into words how happy I am and how much this win means to me." @ShaneLowryGolf #BMWPGA | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/VLpXjbIzco

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 11, 2022

"It's been a good year - I felt like I've been close a few times and felt like I've only got a few tournaments left this season and wanted to try and win one, and obviously this one is right up at the top of the list," Lowry said.

"I love it here and I've contended in the past, and even going down the back nine today, I was like, the bad shots that I've hit over the years in contention actually started to creep into my head and it's amazing what this game does. 

"I'm so happy. Honestly, words can't (describe) how happy I am, how much this means to me and how much I love this Tour and how much I love this tournament. I'm the happiest man in the world right now."

Patrick Reed set the early clubhouse target. Teeing off over four hours before the leaders, the American made nine birdies, six of them on the back nine, to reach 14-under-par.

However, Reed was overtaken by the magnificent Rahm who equalled the score shot by Min Woo Lee on Saturday. The Spaniard began the third and final round six shots behind Viktor Hovland and Soren Kjeldsen.

Having made just two birdies in the first nine holes, Rahm came alive at the start of the back nine. He played holes 10 to 13 in 5-under and he reached 13-under-par for the week.

Step up @ShaneLowryGolf ☘️#BMWPGA | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/XPmk9sQQas

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 11, 2022

Despite making his first bogey of the week on the 15th hole, he made birdie on the next two and emphatically celebrated a clutch eagle putt on his 54th hole to card a 62.

Rahm now held the lead, but he was shortly joined by Lowry. The Irishman, who came second at Wentworth in 2014, eagled the par-5 4th hole and added two more birdies on his front nine.

He tapped in for birdie on the par-5 12th hole to equal his 2021 Ryder Cup teammate on 16-under-par. Meanwhile, FedEx Cup champion Rory and Fabrizio Zanotti were two shots behind on 14-under.

McIlroy almost raised the roof at Virginia Water when his chip lipped out on the 13th hole to reach one shot of the lead. At this stage, Matthieu Pavon and Billy Horschel were in the clubhouse on 13-under, while Hovland, Talor Gooch and Thomas Detry were still on the course on the same score.

The Northern Irishman did cause some cheer on the 15th hole when he nailed a curling right-to-left birdie putt to reach 15-under-par. Meanwhile, Gooch eagled the 18th hole to card a 67, finishing on 15-under-par.

Lowry found the fairway on the 18th and made a solid birdie to move one shot ahead of Rahm. McIlroy now needed an eagle to force a playoff.

The four-time major champion's effort trickled down the slope and somehow avoided the cup. He signed for a 67 to finish in tied second with Rahm.

Two great friends. Two great champions. @McIlroyRory @ShaneLowryGolf #BMWPGA | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/jNRya5vWFw

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 11, 2022

Final leaderboard:

-17 S Lowry

-16 R McIlroy, J Rahm

-15 T Gooch

-14 P Reed, T Detry, V Hovland, S Kjeldsen

-13 M Pavon, B Horschel, F Molinari, R Cabrera Bello