After winning his home open as an amateur in 2009, Shane Lowry believed it would likely go down as his greatest achievement in golf.
But a decade later, his career reached a new high when he claimed his first Major Championship at The Open at Royal Portrush in 2019.
In only the second-ever playing of The Open on the Emerald Isle, Lowry romped to a six-shot victory – set up by a brilliant 63 in the third round – as he withstood wind and rain to emerge as the dominant force.
His triumph was well received as huge and passionate crowds lined the fairways to witness the Irishman’s crowning glory.
Yet, despite that, his play-off triumph against Robert Rock at the Irish Open ten years earlier will forever be one he cherishes.
In a dramatic climax to the event at Baltray, Lowry, who led at the halfway stage after a 62 in the third round, missed a four-foot putt on the 72nd hole to win in regulation on his DP World Tour debut.
In front of home crowds and pouring round, the setback could have derailed the 22-year-old but he quickly regrouped and sealed victory on the third play-off hole and become the third – and most recent – amateur to win on Tour.
“I feel very lucky that I was able to live something like that. That is a dream,” he recalled.
Watch the video above – filmed in 2019 – to see Lowry recall his emotional triumph…
