Shane Lowry will go into the final round of the RBC Canadian Open just four shots off the lead after a third-round 67 moved him to nine-under with Jackson Suber holding sole possession of top spot.
The Offaly man was a little off, particularly on the greens, during Friday’s second round, and after a nine-footer for birdie and a 19-footer for par went by on each of the first two holes on moving day, it looked as though more of the same was in store.
But that bogey on the second was his only dropped shot of the round and he replied with birdies from close range on the par-3 fourth and par-4 eighth to make the turn in red figures.
He continued to pepper flags on the back nine and had tap-in birdies on 12 and 14 to move to -3 on the day, and it lifted him into a share of 13th place with a chance to post an early score with wind and rain forecast and put pressure on the final groupings.
Suber, who had never previously held a 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour and is chasing his first victory, got up and down on the par-5 18th at TPC Toronto to take sole possession of the lead after a four-under 66.
It kept his run of birdieing each of the two par-5s every day.
“I’ve just hit good drives there and I feel like I’ve been in a good spot and iron play seems to be my strength,” Suber said.
Now the big test awaits in various ways. The forecast is not pleasant and the leaderboard features 17 players within four shots of a leader who has never won on the PGA TOUR.
“The conditions are going to be really rough and no matter my start, if I start with an eagle or a bogey, it’s going to be a tough day and it’s not going to be won on the first probably nine to 15 holes,” Suber said. “So just staying patient.”
Suber is coming off a Monday in which he qualified for the U.S. Open for only the second time. Cauley narrowly missed out on his qualifier, but at No. 68 in the world, he now has a chance to move into the top 60 after the RBC Canadian Open and earn a spot at Shinnecock Hills next week.
Of those chasing him, Bud Cauley is the only player within one stroke, but recent winner and former U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark is tied for third at -11, as is Tommy Fleetwood who has seen a recent surge in form after a less than impressive start to 2026.
Halfway leader Ben James dropped down the board with a 78, while Brooks Koepka had to deal with a mysterious feeling in his left arm that made it difficult for him to grip the club most of the day.
“I’m struggling to grip the club with my ring finger and pinkie finger, so can’t grip it,” Koepka said after salvaging a 72, leaving him seven shots behind. “My fingers would come loose, it was kind of numb. I don’t know what the deal was but hopefully we’ll figure it out.”
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