Shane Lowry burst onto the professional scene with an
incredible victory as an amateur at the Irish Open a decade ago, and he delivered again on Sunday by romping to a memorable British Open triumph at a wind-swept Royal Portrush, reports AFP.
The 32-year-old became only the second player from the Republic of Ireland to win the Claret Jug, after Padraig Harrington, to the delight of the home crowds as the Open was given a dream result on its return to Northern Ireland after a 68-year absence.
The stunning six-shot win, after leading by four strokes overnight, also banished the demons of Lowry's collapse when four
clear in the 2016 US Open at Oakmont.
The son of Gaelic football player Brendan Lowry, who won the All-Ireland title with Offaly in 1982 alongside his brothers Mick and Sean, claimed one of the unlikeliest of titles on his European Tour debut in 2009.
Lowry entered that Irish Open at County Louth without a world ranking, but fired a 62 en route to an eventual win over England's Robert Rock on a third sudden-death play-off hole.
That victory had him earmarked as a potential star of European golf, but until this incredible week on the Causeway coast, he had perhaps slightly under-achieved despite some high moments.
Lowry missed out on the 500,000-euro winning prize, though, due to his amateur status, and he quickly turned pro the
next week.
Three straight missed cuts followed, but he steadily found his feet on the tour and took his second title at the Portugal Masters in 2012.