The Clara man really enjoyed himself on Sunday after a difficult 'defence' of the title he won at the county Antrim venue in 2019

It was supposed to be a special return to Royal Portrush for the 2019 Open champion, but it has been anything but.

AND IT WAS on Sunday that Shane Lowry was given a break. Having endured all manner of adversity across the week, Lowry enjoyed the climactic sunshine at Portrush, finishing with a five-under, six-birdie 66 that was illuminated by a hole-out from the fourth fairway.

Shane Lowry has been assessed a two-shot penalty for his golf ball moving in the rough on the 12th hole of the British Open.

Shane Lowry offered hope to Rory McIlroy and the rest of the chasing pack praying for an uncharacteristic Scottie Scheffler slip by shooting a final-round 66 at The Open.

At the time, they could not have known, but they were about to create what would become the only golf course outside Great Britain to host The Open Championship not once, but three times. As we approach the 153rd Open Championship,

A mural of Shane Lowry holding aloft the claret jug adorns the side wall of a house just across the road from Royal Portrush.