Shane Lowry returned home on Tuesday to a hectic Clara homecoming along with an emotional reunion with his beloved 82-year-old grandmother, Emmy Scanlon.
Lowry hosted a press conference in Dublin on Tuesday attended by his friends in the Irish golfing media where he said his stunning victory is still sinking in, and with the madcap celebrations showing no signs of slowing down.
“I haven’t taken it out of my hands,” said Lowry, of the famed Claret Jug. “It’s amazing. There’s so much history on it, there are names from 1872 on this. It’s incredible. The fact that my name’s on there, I can’t believe it.
“I don’t know if I thought I’d ever win a major, but to win The Open at Portrush is a dream come true. When the dust settles at the end of the week, I’ll start to realise what I’ve achieved.”
The 32-year-old has been left in awe of the outpouring of emotion across the Emerald Isle. Lowry expects family support to help him fathom his achievement, although his grandmother is now a star in her own right after revealing she had allowed herself a brandy for the first time in 10 years.
The Portrush grandstands morphed into football terraces on Saturday night, as Lowry stormed into a commanding lead he never released.
The star of the show was somehow able to bask in the glory of the crowds chanting his name, and already appreciates that moment could prove a golfing peak.
“Myself and my wife were talking about it yesterday,” said Lowry. “It is a bit overwhelming but I haven’t really seen it all yet. I’ve barely had time to be on my phone or do anything.
“Come the weekend, when I’m able to sit at home and read about it and see the magnitude of it, I’ll realise what it is.
“Everybody was talking to me about my granny yesterday. She is a great woman. We grew up down the road from her, so we were able to walk down the road to her house.
“I’m very close to her and I’m very excited to get down there and see her. She’s the one I’m most looking forward to seeing.”
Reflecting on the phenomenal backing of the partisan Irish crowd, Lowry added: “The support in Portrush was just incredible. I couldn’t believe it. I knew the crowds would be quite good but it’s hard to put into words what it was like.
“Sunday was great obviously but Saturday evening was something that I never thought I’d witness on a golf course, let alone it be for me. I’ll look back on that now when the dust settles with very fond memories.
“I said to Bo walking down 18 on Saturday, ‘we might never experience anything like this ever again, so let’s enjoy it as much as we can’.”
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