Pic: Victorious Shane Lowry gives thanks to unlikely WGC ally

Tree hugger...

A delighted Shane Lowry was understandably thanking anyone and everyone who played a part in his stunning WGC victory at Firestone last night, but he reserved a special embrace for an unlikely ally. After hooking his drive on 18 into the trees, Lowry looked no better than even money to get the par he needed for victory, but he managed to pull out a superb second shot that came to a halt 12 feet from the pin, setting up the clinching birdie putt. https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/630496001241931776 The shot connected with several tree branches on its way towards the green, but rather than stopping the ball short of the green, the branches took just enough off the shot to land it softly on the putting surface, all but ensuring Lowry's victory. https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/630511736265809921