THE PRIDE OF IRELAND

The story of Shane Lowry ’s incredible Open victory at Portrush has lost none of its romance in the two years since he lifted the Claret Jug

- FERGUS BISSET

Sixty-eight years after The Open’s only other visit to the Emerald Isle, an Irishman beat all international rivals on Irish shores. Shane Lowry’s links masterclass at Portrush in 2019 will go down in the annals of Ireland’s sporting history and popular folklore – Finn MacCool with a 3-iron!

Lowry has been Champion Golfer for two years because of the pandemic, but even with extra time for reflection, he finds it surreal to recall the biggest week of his sporting life. Speaking on The Open Podcasts, the 32-year old remembers the final moments at Portrush: “Walking down 18, I said to my caddie Bo, looking at the leaderboard, ‘I cannot believe it’s me up there’. It’s one of the strangest feelings. It was like an out-of-body experience.”

Lowry produced one of the most exceptional and complete golfing performances to triumph in front of ecstatic home fans at Portrush. Singing and shouting him home, there was an atmosphere unlike any other seen in individual strokeplay.

Lowry’s momentous Open triumph was not the first time he had delighted Irish fans. In 2009, while still an amateur, he won the Irish Open at County Louth. Coming through a play-off against Robert Rock and battling extremely testing conditions in round four, Lowry displayed great resilience and shot-making to get the job done, relishing rather than folding under the pressure of home support.

It was an experience that would stand him in good stead ten years later.