On Sunday after he had finished his media commitments, Open Champion Shane Lowry headed south to Dublin to celebrate with his family and friends. Later on, this week, he left his family home in Clara, County Offaly, headed by a marching band, to the local Celtic Football club where 10,000 fans waited to cheer him on. They have re named the Open Championship trophy, the Clara Jug.
If you click on the link on twitter you’ll see a fan has recorded the moment when Sergio Garcia tossed a club at his caddie on Sunday, causing the gallery to gasp.
He was very contrite the last time his behaviour was discussed but doesnt seem to mean it. It’s time for the sport’s authorities to step in now. We tolerate bad behaviour from the pros – and it is top players who do this – spitting, urinating in front of spectators or in the sight of TV cameras, and frequent bad language. But Sergio’s temper tantrums need to be put a stop to. He needs time out from competition.
https://mobile.twitter.com/rayowensmu20/status/1153651236996091905
An American golf fan has unwittingly won $1,000. He thought that he had placed his $20 wager on Shane Lowry to win the US Open after hearing a television pundit recommend him. He found his mistake when he found the betting slip which had The Open on it rather than US Open.
This shows how some American golf fans persist in referring to their national US Open championship “the open” whilst not realising that what they call “the British” is always known as “The Open Championship”. A lucky mistake!
Shane Lowry’s caddie Bo Martin is from Belfast. This week he was stopped by three American journalists and asked if sport inspires Northern Ireland/Irish unity. Martin replied that too much is made of the division. “You have it bigger in America than we do”.
Well done to Ricky Fowler for reaching a compromise. When a journalist pointed out to him that wearing his traditional Sunday finish orange clothing (which he wears in honour of his university Oklahoma State) might be making a political statement in Ulster, he came out today wearing black but with an orange puma cap. The cap is hiding a mullet hairstyle that he has promised his fiancee Allison will be gone before their wedding in October. By then he mY look even more like Leonardo Di Caprio.
Broadcasters have been taking instruction this week on understanding the local accent.
Open Championship leader Shane Lowry has admitted that he has been supporting another Irishman, Greg O Shea from Limerick, who isnt competing against him, but who has provided entertainment off course in Love Island on TV.
Astronaut Alan Sheperd from Apollo 14 shanked his first shot 40 yards into a crater before lofting his second shot 200 yards on February 6, 1971
He shook his head as the sounds of Ole Ole Ole rung out from the gallery. Shane Lowry called it “the most incredible day of his life” It sounded like a Ryder Cup celebration, and it was only Saturday. He said his mind was still fuzzy with it all but he had had the rare experience of feeling comfortable all day and was feeding off the energy of the Irish in his gallery. He had felt completely in control of his game, he said. He certainly played aggressive golf, taking driver off the tee more times than most. But it was his iron play and his wonderful dextrous short game around the greens which was most impressive. He has such feel and creativity and releases the clubhead through the ball so well. He likes to vary his shots too, high, low, left, right. It was a very confident performance.
Lowry holds a four shot lead at -16 over Tommy Fleetwood at -12, JB Holmes at -10, Justin Rose and Brooks Koepka are behind. Torrential rain is forecast for the final round with an early start planned, but Lowry is a good bad weather player. Apart from the conditions, the expectations of the home crowd for an Irish winner there are a couple of other things to contend with. He’s occasionally lost focus this week, particularly on Thursday on the back nine when he overheard a Tv commentator analysing his swing while he was on the tee about to hit his shot. He seemed a little zoned out during the final holes of the first round.
And then there’s the memory of Oakmont. During the 2016 US Open he held another 4 shot lead going into the final round, and did not win. He says he will “deal with it better this time”.
He gave everyone a magical Saturday and he says whatever happens tomorrow he might never experience anything like the support of this crowd again so he intends to enjoy every minute. In his post round interview he told the press he would be going back to the house to watch Love Island, supporting the Irishman in there.
On the third day of the Open Championship everyone has been applauding and marvelling at what relentless Shane Lowry has been doing. He’s now -15 6 ahead of the third place players. Every player in the top 20 has scored par or better.
But looking at the statistics again, they make surprising reading. Although Lowry leads the approach shots category – this course demands strong iron play – with 93%, Tommy Fleetwood is also at 88% in this category, Lowry has a very low percentage for driving accuracy at only 41%.
In driving distance Alex Noren is leading with 335 yards and Lowry is way down with 295 yards. Lee Westwood is even shorter at 281 yards, Fleetwood at 316.In the putting category Noren performs well again at 1.44 Lowry is at 1.56 and Fleetwood 1.59.
