Shane Lowry changed the narrative of his entire season as he romped to a sensational eleven-shot victory to clinch his second Amgen Irish Open title at Doonbeg.
Seventeen years since his famous win as an amateur in County Louth and four since his last individual victory, Lowry teed off with a four shot lead and after that was extended to six with an opening birdie and a Jacob Skov Olesen bogey on the 2nd, the next sixteen holes were a mere procession with the Offaly man carding a stunning 63 for a 23-under total.
A near miss in Dubai and a collapse at the Cognizant Classic clouded over his summer as he struggled to recover from that. Lowry, who dropped outside the world’s top-50, took a financial hit in not qualifying for the last two FedEx Cup playoff events but it was a blessing in disguise as he looked refreshed and focused on home soil all week.
“This year has been quite difficult on the course for me,” said Lowry who shook hands with US President Donald Trump on the first tee before hitting one of his famous chippy drives over 350 yards down the first hole to settle early nerves.
“I had a few chances to win. To come here this week and do this, come on, I don’t know, I just don’t do things like half-measures. I can’t believe I’m standing here on top of of the leaderboard. I said to my caddie, I didn’t know how I was doing. I said to him on 15 after I holed that birdie putt, I said, how are we doing? Or how far ahead are we? He said far enough. So I was happy with that.
“Yeah, look, a lot of things have went right for me but this has been the most spectacular week for me. It’s just mad. I can’t believe it. My mom was just standing there. I have my wife and my kids are back in Florida.
“Like it’s been — when things are not going well at this level, it’s hard at home as well but my wife has been a huge support and my kids, and they just — I love them so much. I’m so happy for them. I can’t wait to bring a trophy home. My daughter is always asking, when are you going to bring a trophy home. So I’m going to bring a trophy home.”
Lowry had nine one putts in a row on the back nine in round three which separated himself from the field. He made it ten on the spin with an opening birdie before adding another birdie on the 5th and a 43-foot birdie putt on the par-3 7th that put him eight clear as he began to really enjoy himself. A birdie at the par-5 8th was followed by his only bogey of the day on 9 but with a seven shot advantage it was little bait for the field to attack.
A routine two-putt birdie on the par-5 10th was followed by a ten footer for birdie on the 14th before he brought the house down again with a 44-foot birdie on 15, a length which had become his trademark for the week. After hitting a solid approach to 29-feet on the 72nd hole, Lowry’s arms were aloft before his birdie putt disappeared and then came a huge outpouring of emotion. The frustration of not getting over the line for four years, the scar tissue of this season was changed to relief and ecstasy.
“I said walking down the last obviously Portrush was incredible, last year was incredible, and I feel like I can’t better it, but look at this.
“I sat last week at Croke Park watching Katie Taylor, with almost a little bit of jealousy what she was achieving and getting to do it in front of her home fans, and I get to do it this week. This is incredible. I’m so happy.”
Patrick Reed and Joaquin Niemann shared the runner up position on twelve-under as Rasmus Neergaard Peterson took fourth with a final round 63.
Tom McKibbin closed with a 67 to share fifth place on ten-under while Liam Nolan picked up over €40,000 for his 31st place finish on three-under.
Rory McIlroy will take encouragement to Wentworth next week after a closing 67 for a 41st place finish on one-under.
Leave a comment