Nico Echavarria got 'emotional' watching Shane Lowry interview

Nico Echavarria briefly thought he was about to suffer the same fate as Shane Lowry on the 17th at the Cognizant Classic, and have his tee-shot land in the water

HUNTER: Colombian Nico Echavarria came from behind to win the Cognizant Classic at Palm Beach Gardens. It was the third victory of his career. Pic: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Nico Echavarria said he felt emotional after watching Shane Lowry's post-round interview following the Offaly man's late collapse at the Cognizant Classic on Sunday. 

Lowry found the water on the 16th and 17th holes, making double bogeys on both. That opened the door for Echavarria to sneak in front and claim the third victory of his career as Lowry blew a three-shot lead.

Lowry said afterward that the hardest part of not winning was having four-year-old daughter Ivy waiting on the final green. He has never won a tournament with her present.

“I feel bad for Shane for what happened,” Echavarria  told the Fore Play podcast.

“It hurts, especially seeing that interview. He wanted his daughter to run onto the green. I got a little emotional but it's a tough game. He's gonna be okay.” 

Re-watched Shane Lowry's full media appearance. Real and heartbreaking but impressive, too. Didn't make excuses, didn't lash out, gave us insight, got vulnerable, owned it. That first line stands out, though.

"I had the tournament in my hands, and I threw it away."

That part… pic.twitter.com/wDW3erVoPP

— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) March 2, 2026

Lowry had been the joint leader going into the final round at the Palm Beach Gardens course, sitting one shot ahead of the eventual winner. Echavarria was glad to be the hunter rather than the hunted.

“I was thinking this morning, having random thoughts, man I can't imagine playing Sunday with that wind direction having a one-shot lead, playing that golf course,” said the Colombian.

“It was a totally different mindset than the one I had. Obviously, you're very scared, but you're not trying to save anything. I'm almost glad I wasn't in that scenario.” 

Being told that Lowry had found the water on the 16th changed Echavarria’s perspective. The 31-year-old birdied the 17th but did briefly think he was about to suffer the same fate.

“It did change the mindset. It's like, 'Ok, I'm not playing for second anymore. I can win this tournament'.

“The guys on NBC who are walking with us — Smiley and the guy who helps him — tell me, 'Hey, he just put it in the water on 16'. I just made a great par, two-putted from far. It's like 'alright, we have a chance'.

“But honestly, you're not changing the way you play 17. It's such a hard hole that you're trying to hit it 20, 30 feet left and make par. The hole's playing hard enough where you can't go for that pin. You're trying to have a look; if you make birdie, it's great.

“I guess the wind did a lot to the ball. It also came out a little higher than what I wanted. I'm looking like Justin Rose with all the hand gestures. It drifted, and it's like 'oh my God, that ball is gonna go in the water. I cannot believe it'. Then it was safe. It was crazy how nerve-wracking that was. Every emotion.”