Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
LOWRY PAINTS SUCH A PRETTY PICTURE Shane’s masterpiece has Portrush galleries purring as superb 63 puts him just one round from immortality
Another round like this sensational effort and Lowry will be crowned Portrush king
IRELAND’S Shane Lowry is just 18 holes from being crowned Open champion on the final thrilling day at Royal Portrush.
The Clara man shot a course record 63 as an electric atmosphere engulfed the Dunluce Links yesterday.
Lowry opened up a four-shot lead on Englishman Tommy Fleetwood who will play with him in the final group as both seek a first Major title.
Lowry, 32, said: “There is nowhere I would rather be than taking a four-shot lead into the final round of an Open in Ireland. It will be great whatever happens.”
Today’s final round tee times have been brought forward due to the bad weather forecast with Lowry due off at 1.47pm.
OPEN folklore is glinting on the Causeway coastline for Shane Lowry after a stunning demolition of the Dunluce Links edged him ever closer to a maiden Major.
The classy Clara golfer was simply unstoppable as he carded an 8-under 63 to take him to 16-under heading into today’s final round at Royal Portrush.
Lowry, a 45/1 shot with bookies at the start of the week, boasts a crucial four-shot lead over Tommy Fleetwood who got himself to 12-under after a flawless 66.
American JB Holmes is two shots further behind on 10-under, with World No.1 Brooks Koepka and Justin Rose on 9-under.
Lowry had admitted earlier in the week that his knees were shaking as he stepped up to the first tee on Thursday as the Open made its historic return to Portrush for the first time in 68 years.
But yesterday, with Fleetwood and a high profile cast jostling for position in his rear view mirror, the 32-year-old was unwavering as he set a new course record around the revamped Dunluce Links.
“It was one of the most incredible days of my life,” said Lowry. “I really enjoyed it. I played great golf, the crowd were incredible and I just felt so comfortable out there.
“Hopefully I feel that comfortable tomorrow. I know I have a tough 24 hours ahead of me, but there’s nowhere I’d rather be.
“I’ve got a four-shot lead in an Open Championship in Ireland. Sunday is going to be incredible regardless what happens.”
Lowry, bidding to become only the fifth Irish golfer and first southern star since Padraig Harrington to lift the Claret Jug, was scintillating
around the North Coast track. Roared on by a capacity crowd, the World No.33, with just three bogeys across the opening three days, hit almost 95 per cent of his greens in regulation.
Three-under at the turn, he went on a five-birdie streak on the back nine, sparked by a stunning seven iron approach into the par-4 10th.
“I got going after that,” he said. “I just felt in such control of my game. There are very few times as a golfer when you’re in that position and it’s great when it happens.”
On the partisan fans packed into the Portrush galleries – he was serenaded with chants of “Ole! Ole! Ole!” down the stretch – Lowry said: “Every time I got a putt I just wanted to hole it so I could hear that roar.
“I said to my caddie walking off the 17th tee, the next half an hour we might not experience anything like it again, so let’s enjoy it. And that’s what I did. It was incredible.”
Lowry held a similar four-shot lead heading into the final round of the 2016 US Open, only to endure a last day meltdown at Oakmont.
But he believes he’s older and better equipped to deal with whatever Portrush throws at him when he tees it up in the final pairing with Fleetwood at 1.47pm.
“Four ahead again,” he smiled. “I said after finishing out at the 18th ‘at least I’ll not have to answer any questions about Oakmont!’.
“Look, I know it’s going to be difficult but I hope I’m going to be able to deal with it better. I think I’m ready for it.”
Another birdie at the last would have seen Lowry equal the lowest round in Major history – Branden Grace’s 62 at the 2017 Open – but his long distance effort drifted wide.
Every player in the top 20 shot par or better and the front nine saw all the top players jockeying for position.
When Fleetwood and Lee Westwood made the turn, the two Englishmen were part of a four-way tie for the lead at 10-under par with Holmes.
Rose got off to a slow start but his round was kickstarted by an eagle on 12 on his way to a 68 to move to nine-under par.
Last year’s runner-up at Carnoustie said: “It was huge. I looked at the leaderboard and said to myself I needed to go low.
“I set myself the target of getting to 10-under par. I don’t mind being a few shots back.
“I didn’t want to have to run through too many players. We will see what happens. I am in a great spot going into tomorrow.”
His playing partner, and World No.1, Koepka carded a 67.