Emotions run high as Justin Lower, others eye maiden TOUR win at World Wide Technology Championship

I don’t know, (a low round) is definitely possible on this golf course if you’re feeling good about it,” Lower said. “I putted really well. Something I’ve been working hard on, one of the strengths of my game, so was just trying to get that in line. They went in today. Hopefully, they continue tomorrow.”

Lower said that while there hasn’t been a hefty handful of solid results this season, there has been plenty of consistency in his game – something that he said ticked a big box when it came to his 2024 goals. This week marked his 21st made-cut in 29 tournaments through the season, a statistic he knew immediately off the top of his head.

That’s when the emotions started to kick in for Lower, who, with a laugh, said he would “stop doing this” (‘this,’ meaning, get emotional) in interviews. Lower had three top-10s in the whole of 2022-23, and just two in 2021-22. He’s been up and he’s been down. The work has been there, and the numbers reflect it – he’s up to No. 77 in Strokes Gained: Total this season from 107th last season, for example – but to tilt a trophy and to just have the opportunity to say, “I did it,” means so very much.

“Sometimes I think I never would have gotten this far, and I’ve been through a lot in my life and it’s just, I don’t know, it’s just a lot of fun. It’s nothing sad that I’m crying. I don’t know, it’s just joyful. I love being out here,” Lower said. “It just means a lot to me.”

For Echavarria, it’s a bit of déjà vu just two weeks after he captured his second PGA TOUR title, winning the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP. He’s bogey-free through 54 holes so far this week and having been in this position before, it’s just going to be a matter of managing his nerves he said.

There’s also a trio of golfers nipping at the leaders’ heels including Austin Eckroat, Joe Highsmith and Max Greyserman, who has finished second in three of his last five TOUR starts – including to Echavarria at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP.