Lowry lands British Open

BY COLIN BARTLEY

OFFALY’s Shane Lowry has won the 148th edition of golf’s British Open, the final major of the year.

The hugely popular Offaly man becomes the fifth Irish man to lift the famous Claret Jug.

Lowry managed to keep his head in difficult conditions in Royal Portrush, while all the challengers around him were losing theirs.

Despite a few wobbles along the way, Lowry was never any less than four shots ahead of the field and comfortable at six shots ahead going down the stretch.

Cheered on loudly by a partisan crowd Lowry finished six strokes ahead of England’s Tommy Fleetwood and nine ahead of Lee Westwood in third.

Lowry joins Fred Daly, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, and Rory McIlroy as Irishmen who have lifted the most coveted prize in golf.