Shane Lowry overcame difficult conditions at Royal Portrush on Sunday to win The 2019 Open Championship by six shots. With the wet weather and strong winds playing havoc from the seventh hole in, Irishman Lowry managed to hold his nerve while his nearest challengers all began to slip away by making costly errors.
The 32-year-old, who had missed his last four cuts at The Open, made four birdies and five bogeys to sign for a one-over-par 72 and finish the tournament on -15, six strokes clear of English runner-up Tommy Fleetwood.
World number 33 Lowry, the 2019 Champion Golfer of the Year, takes the famous Claret Jug from Italian Francesco Molinari’s hands and he had to fight back the tears during his speech after being handed the trophy.
He said on Sky Sports: “My family, what can I say… my mum and dad. They sacrificed so much for me and I’m so happy I can give them this trophy tonight.”
American Tony Finau managed to snatch third position on -7 after a level-par 71, while Englishman Lee Westwood and world number one Brooks Koepka were a further stroke back on -6.
Robert MacIntyre took a share of sixth on -5 alongside Rickie Fowler, Tyrrell Hatton and Danny Willett to become the first Scottish player to finish in the top 10 at The Open since Colin Montgomerie in 2005.
