By Doug Ferguson | Associated Press
MARANA, Ariz. -- Graeme McDowell ended what was still a big week for Shane Lowry at the Match Play Championship.
McDowell made three birdies in a five-hole stretch to take a 4-up lead at the turn, and then outlasted his Irish friend, 3 and 2, on Saturday to reach the quarterfinals of this World Golf Championship for the first time.
Lowry became the first No. 64 seed in the 15-year history of the event to reach the third round, after an 18-hole win over No. 1 Rory McIlroy and a thrashing of Carl Pettersson. Lowry just wasn't sharp enough to handle McDowell.
"Very difficult to get the poker face on and really knuckle down and play Shane, being a good friend like he is," said McDowell, who knocked out both players from Ireland this week after beating Padraig Harrington in the first round.
Next up for McDowell on Saturday afternoon was Jason Day, who eliminated Masters champion Bubba Watson and left this tournament without a top-10 seed going into the quarterfinals for the first time ever.
The best golf belonged to Steve Stricker, who celebrated his 46th birthday with a match that made him feel 47. Stricker made eight birdies and needed every one of them to beat Scott Piercy, who shot 65 and lost.
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