I'll celebrate twice as good if I win another one. You need to enjoy it'

Shane Lowry reflects on his Open triumph at Portrush and why he does not regret his week-long celebration

- Ewan Murray

The gable end of a house on Causeway Street in Portrush delivers a reminder of Shane Lowry's Open triumph in 2019. The fantastic mural not only depicts Lowry with the Claret Jug in hand, but how Ireland, whether north or south, unites behind its sportspeople. Lingering memories from six years ago recall Lowry stretching away from the field towards the end of round three. He was in an unassailable position.

The subsequent epic, week-long celebrations are another key reference point; the new Open champion showed the sporting world how to party and it fuelled a misconception, a tired cliché of the bearded, drinking Irishman.

"I have always been conscious of that, but I have also always enjoyed myself," Lowry says. "I work my nuts off. You can't play at this level without doing that. If I win another one, I'll celebrate twice as good. It's so hard out here, so hard to win big tournaments that when you do, you need to enjoy them.

"Players came to me afterwards... I remember Martin Kaymer's caddie telling me: 'Martin regrets not doing what you did because when he was winning majors, world No 1, he took it for granted a little bit. You need to enjoy the moments.'"

The outpouring of emotion was due in part to what he encountered before the last round. He led by four with 18 holes to play, the same advantage he had at Oakmont's 2016 US Open, only to stumble painfully in Pennsylvania.