Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry among leaders in resurgent final rounds at US PGA Championship

Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry are among the leaders at the US PGA Championship after promising final rounds at Kiawah Island.

The pair were all smiles playing their final rounds together this evening, and they were both on song as they gave leaders a little something to think about.

Dubliner Harrington dialled back the clock in his final round, carding three under par for the day and two under par for the tournament.

Harrington, who won the tournament in 2008, came into the day some way off overnight leader Phil Mickelson at seven under par.

But the 49-year-old now finds himself tied fifth as frontrunners like Brooks Koepka and Kevin Steelman are over par for the day heading into the back nine.

Padraig Harrington plays his shot from the 15th tee during the second round (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Harrington has picked up four birdies and an eagle in a resurgent finale, but also shot three bogeys in South Carolina.

Fellow Irishman Lowry has also had plenty to smile about this afternoon, and also sits at two under par for the tournament.

He carded six birdies, but a run of three bogeys in the front nine means he also sits three under par for the day, and level with Harrington at two under for the tournament.

The Open champion had a late chance to climb into the top four as things stand, but a seven-footer birdie attempt on the 18th drifted just left of the hole.

Shane Lowry of Ireland plays a shot during a practice round prior to the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island Resort's Ocean Course (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

It comes after Rory McIlroy carded a five over par score for the tournament in an underwhelming week for the Down native.

McIlroy failed to break par in any round at Kiawah Island, rounds of 75, 72, 74 and 72 leaving the four-time major winner on five over par.

“More of the same, very average,” McIlroy said when asked to sum up a closing 72 containing four birdies and four bogeys.

“Can’t really get anything going and it was a day where you had to get off to a fast start. The first few holes were playing a lot easier than they have done, and I didn’t do that, and yeah, just sort of stuck in neutral.”

McIlroy had been installed as the pre-tournament favourite on the back of his victory in the Wells Fargo Championship a fortnight ago and his eight-shot triumph the last time Kiawah Island staged the US PGA in 2012.