Updated Shane Lowry fires into contention after record-equalling 62 at Valhalla

Offaly's Shane Lowry narrowly failed to card the first 61 in men’s major championship history as he surged into contention for the 106th US PGA Championship at Valhalla.

The 2019 Open champion needed to birdie the 18th to write his name in the history books, but missed from 12 feet and had to settle for a bogey-free third round of 62.

That matched the mark initially set by Branden Grace in the 2017 Open, which was equalled by Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele in the opening round of last year’s US Open and achieved again by Schauffele on Thursday.

Lowry set the clubhouse target on 13 under par and, after starting the day eight shots off the lead, ended it just two behind Schauffele and Collin Morikawa, with Sahith Theegala alone in third on 14 under.

On a densely-packed leaderboard, Bryson DeChambeau chipped in on the 18th for an eagle to join Lowry and Viktor Hovland on 13 under, with Ryder Cup partners Justin Rose and Robert MacIntyre another stroke back.

Lowry made four birdies in a row from the second and picked up further shots on the seventh and ninth to race to the turn in 29 and become the first player to break 30 on either nine in any of Valhalla’s four US PGA Championships.

The 37-year-old, who is ranked a lowly 168th for putting on the PGA Tour this season, then holed from more than 30 feet for birdie on the 13th and 14th and just six feet on the 17th to set up his shot at history.

The par-five 18th had played the easiest hole in the first two rounds and although Lowry gave himself a great chance with a superb third shot, his birdie attempt was low and left of the hole.

"It feels pretty good," Lowry said. "To be honest I would have liked it if I went one lower and I'm disappointed to miss it, but I went out with a