WATCH: Highlights of Shane Lowry’s heroic third round at 148th Open Championship
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Shane Lowry played well on his way to a stunning victory at The 148th Open, but his best round was arguably his record-breaking third.
Lowry had already created a sensation at Royal Portrush, where he was tied for the lead at eight under with JB Holmes at the middle stage of the Championship.
However, very few would have predicted the performance the Irishman would deliver at the Open that Saturday.
Lowry progressed through the world-class field in classy fashion, giving himself a four-shot 63 to set a new course record following Portrush’s 2016 redevelopment.
Lowry’s unspoiled stats were very entertaining. He made eight birdies, hit seventeen of eighteen greens in regulation, and didn’t drop a single shot.
A large crowd cheered on the Irish golf champion, so it was a surprise that the man from Clara did so well in the tense conditions that changed the links.
Lowry only got stronger as the cheers grew, while many may have found it difficult to handle the mounting pressure.
Lowry picked up strokes on the third and fifth holes, then picked it up at the turn, birdying the ninth, tenth and twelfth to cement his Claret Jug campaign. His approach to the 10th was brilliant, as he used the course concerts to great effect after a long conversation with his friend, Bo Martin.
Lowry produced another impressive run down the stretch to take the Championship lead, making three birdies in a row from the 15th, including two at the 16th thanks to a superb shot.
He came within one birdie on 18, which would have equaled Branden Grace’s major league record of 62 at the 146th Open at Royal Birkdale.
Although his three-putt eventually stayed above the ground, it did nothing to dampen the mood in Portrush, which was maintained the next day when Lowry won by six strokes.
Reflecting on that third round, Lowry said: “I said to Bo from the 17th: ‘We may never have another day like this on the golf course, so let’s enjoy this for the next half hour.’
“And I did that. The crowd was amazing. I just can’t believe what it was like.
“Honestly, that’s the best day I’ve ever had on the golf course.”
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