Sunday marked a career that’s come full circle for Irishman Shane Lowry.
The 39-year-old notched his fifth career DP World Tour victory at the Amgen Irish Open, held at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg on the Emerald Isle’s southwest coast.
The victory was Lowry’s second Irish Open win, 17 years after he claimed his first Irish Open title as an amateur in 2019. Ten years later, in 2019, Lowry won his maiden major championship at Royal Portrush.
Lowry’s march to victory at Doonbeg included numerous highlights. His second-round score of 62 (-8) set a new course record. On Sunday, he entered the final round with a four-shot lead and kept the pedal to the metal, carding eight birdies, including the par-4 15th, where he drained a 44-foot putt for birdie to the roaring delight of the gallery, and the par-4 18th, where he rolled in a 29-footer for birdie that gave him a final-round 63 (to reach 23 under overall) and the largest margin of victory in tournament history: 11 shots.
Patrick Reed and Joaquin Niemann tied for second at 12 under par, and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen was third at 11 under. Rory McIlroy finished T41 at one under par.
President Donald Trump was on site to watch the tournament on both Saturday and Sunday, with cameras spotting him chatting with players like Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka and NBC Sports broadcaster Paul McGinley.
In the wake of his momentous victory, the home-turf hero was visibly emotional in his greenside post-round interview.
“This year has been quite difficult on the course for me,” Lowry said. “I’ve had a few chances to win and I took some really tough times, And yeah, to come here this week and do this, like, come on, it’s, I don’t know, I just, I don’t do things by half measures.
“I can’t believe I’m standing here. That leaderboard, like, oh my God. I said to my caddie, I didn’t know how I was doing. I said to him, on 15 after I holed that birdie putt, I said, how are we doing, or how far ahead are we? He said, far enough. So I was happy with that.
“And, look, a lot of things went right for me, but this has been the most spectacular week,” he continued. “Everything about it. It’s just mad. I can’t believe it.”
Lowry said his mother was onsite to watch his triumph but his wife and children were at home in Florida.
“When things are not going well at this level, it’s hard at home as well, but my wife’s been a huge support, and my kids, I just love them so much. I’m so happy just for them,” Lowry said. “I can’t wait to bring a trophy home. My daughters always ask me, when are you going to bring a trophy home? So yes, I’m going to bring one home.”
“Honestly, I’m speechless, it’s hard to talk,” he continued. “I just can’t believe I’ve just done that and done it the way I’ve done it as well. I’ve had to fight a few demons off, over the past few months, on the course when you get yourself into contention. I did take some time away the last few weeks. I worked pretty hard. I got all my team over to Florida and we worked hard, and this just shows you what hard work can do.”
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