Unlikely Irish hero Shane Lowry turns Royal Portrush following into a raucous Ryder Cup crowd
First there was Rory McIlroy, but he was spectacularly unseated at the first. Next there was Darren Clarke, but he met a similarly ugly finish at the halfway mark. And yes, Graeme McDowell is still chugging along nicely as the finish comes into view but just about all local eyes - and undoubtedly their voices - were aimed squarely on Saturday at one unlikely hero.
Shane Lowry, a bearded 32-year-old golfer who, on the most inspired afternoon of his life, sent 45,000 people inside Royal Portrush into delirious celebration.
Even as he approached the first tee, the reaction already felt like something akin to a Ryder Cup crowd. By the time that he had left the 18th, following an extraordinary round of 63, Lowry could have been forgiven for thinking that he was inside a football stadium.
The earlier, still thundering, soundtrack of, “Go on Shane! Go Lowry! C’mon Big Shane!” had simply evolved into one glorious chant of, “Olé, Olé, Olé”. And it was still booming out all across Royal Portrush a good 20 minutes after he had left the green.
The only brief moments of diversion had come with the hushed silence whenever he addressed the ball and then the thunderous roars and standing ovations that greeted birdies on three, five, nine, 10 and 12 before a gloriously inspired hat-trick through holes 15 to 17.
Lowry handled the emotion perfectly. He had been chatting calmly throughout with his playing partner JB Holmes and happily interacted with the crowd. As his round then gathered momentum, he simply rode the crest of the wave that he had inspired.
He even turned to his caddie, Brian ‘Bo’ Martin, after completing the 17th and told him that they might never again experience a day like it and so they had better enjoy the next half an hour.
There was duly a broad smile as he made his way up the 18th and then, once he had putted out for par, rather than simply the traditional doffing of his cap, he turned to deliver the sort of two-handed applause that is usually the preserve of a footballer. It was a gesture that matched the atmosphere.
Perhaps the most significant moment of the round had come at the 10th. Lowry had sprayed a rare tee shot into the thick rough and there was just the danger that he could fall back. His target had narrowed dangerously but not only did he reach the green off an awkward line but he left the ball within 15 feet of the pin to turn possible bogey into yet another gained shot.
Lowry has missed the cut at the last four Open championships but this was still not quite uncharted territory. He had performed with similar gusto at the US Open in 2016 while constructing a third round 65 to establish a four shot lead before then stuttering to three consecutive bogeys on the final back nine to finish tied second.
The question now of course is whether that experience will scar or strengthen him? His demeanour on Saturday certainly did not suggest that he was feeling any excessive tension.
Enjoyment seemed like the dominant emotion rather than any burden of expectation but he was also refreshingly honest in addressing how he will now deal with the nervous wait before he tees off early on Sunday afternoon knowing that any outcome short of victory will represent disappointment.
Yes, he said, of course his mind will turn to how it might feel to lift the famous Claret Jug but he clearly feels more relaxed about life. In trying to explain how it now somehow meant less, it was significant that he referenced wife Wendy, daughter Iris and the fresh perspective he has. They were helping him relax, as well as his brother, and he admitted that watching Love Island might very well be a good way to unwind.
And had he ever experienced a crowd quite like it? “I really don't think so,” he said. “I think it was incredible right from the first hole. You can't help but smile, you can't help but laugh how it is. It's an incredible feeling getting applauded on every green, every tee box. I thought I dealt with it very well today. Honestly, walking from the green to the next tee, the people were literally a yard away roaring in your face as loud as they can.”
Lowry had also been asked on Friday what the nicest element of playing in Northern Ireland had been and he joked that it was being able to drive rather than travel by plane to get to the venue. His home-town of Clara in County Offaly is only four hours away, but much more of this and he will be returning aboard an open top bus.
