The world No 12 missed just two greens in regulation, a major requirement in next week’s US Open, as he made three birdies and a lone bogey to share 16th on 10-under in Toronto.
He’s just four strokes behind Italy’s Matteo Manassero and New Zealander Ryan Fox, who both shot six-under 64s on Saturday to share the third-round lead.
Manassero fought back from a three-putt bogey on the 17th with a birdie on the par-five 18th to get to 14-under on the North Course at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.
“I missed the short one on 17, and I did miss a couple more short ones today,” Manassero said after hitting his 80-yard third to two feet at the last.
“I try to think of them just like a shot, really, like a driver, like a six-iron, whatever.
“It’s just a shot. So I don’t want it to get in my head, and I don’t want that to ruin anything or my attitude going towards the next shots.”
Seeking his first win on the PGA Tour, Manaserro (32) overcame a severe slump to win back his DP World Tour card and earn dual membership of the US circuit.
“I try to get a good attitude, a good thought process, talk well to myself,” he said. “Very basic things.
“I’ve matured a lot and I have a better perspective towards, for example, a day like tomorrow.”
Powerful hitter Fox (38) also birdied the 18th as he bids to add to his maiden win following a play-off in the Myrtle Beach Classic last month.
“To be honest, everything went pretty right,” Fox said. “I drove it great. I think if you do that round here, you give yourself lots of chances.
“Had a lot of good wedge shots, holed a few putts early. Just played really solid kind of stress-free golf for the most part.”
The top 28 on the leaderboard are covered by just five strokes.
Lee Hodges and Kevin Yu shot 63 and Matt McCarty a 64 trail the leaders by just one stroke behind on 13-under.
Canadian Mackenzie Hughes (64) was 12-under with Jake Knapp (66) and Andrew Putnam (68).
“I’ve been putting the ball in play quite a bit, driving it pretty nice,” Hughes said. “I feel like that’s taken some pressure off the putter and the short game. It’s a big key around here. You start driving it well, you can attack and be aggressive.”
Another Canadian, Nick Taylor, the 2023 winner, eagled the 18th for a 69 to join a nine-man group on 10-under alongside the likes of Lowry and compatriot Adam Hadwin (65) and Taylor Pendrith (67)
