PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — The noise was unlike anything Shane Lowry had ever heard on a golf course, no surprise at the first British Open in these parts in 68 years and an Irishman atop the leaderboard at Royal Portrush.
Lowry didn’t get rattled Saturday. He only got better.
Two straight birdies around the turn to take the lead. Three straight birdies near the end to pull away. An 8-under 63 for his lowest round in a major. A stunning back nine that gave him the 54-hole record in the British Open. A four-shot lead going into the final round.
Walking off the 17th tee, Lowry turned to his caddie and said, “We might never have a day like this on the golf course again, so let’s enjoy this.”
“Honestly, that’s the most incredible day I’ve ever had on the golf course,” Lowry said. “I just can’t believe what it was like.”
It can get a lot better, starting with his name etched on the base of that silver claret jug.
Lowry wasn’t willing to look that far ahead, not with a forecast so dire the R&A moved up the starting times Sunday in an effort to avoid the worst of the heavy rain and 35 mph gusts in the forecast.