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Reed's birdie set to be Shane Lowry's golden ticket to the WGC Match Play

Shane Lowry has held on to 65th place in the world rankings — by 0.0002 points — ahead of today’s qualifying cut-off.

SHANE LOWRY CAN start making plans to head to Arizona next week.

The Clara native is set to sneak in to the final qualifying place for the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship by the thinnest of margins — 0.0002 rankings points.

Lowry can thank Patrick Reed after the American’s 12-foot birdie on the final hole of the AT&T Pro-Am at Pebble Beach yesterday earned him a share of seventh place with Frederik Jacobsen.

Crucially Reed’s putt also denied the Swede the points he needed to leapfrog Lowry into 65th place in the world rankings ahead of today’s qualifying cut-off for the matchplay, which begins on 20 February in Dove Mountain.

The world’s top 64 players are eligible but world number 10 Phil Mickelson has indicated that he will not compete. Barring a change of heart, Mickelson’s non-appearance would leave the final spot open for Lowry.

Hunter Mahan beat Rory McIlroy in last year’s final, taking home the winner’s $1.4 million share of the whopping $8.5 million prize fund on offer.

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