DOONBEG, Ireland (AP) — Local fans and President Donald Trump had plenty of reasons to celebrate on Sunday as Shane Lowry converted his four-stroke advantage into a dominant triumph at Doonbeg, carding a final-round 7-under 63 to claim an 11-stroke win and shatter the Irish Open tournament record.
The Irish golfer kicked off his round with four birdies across the first eight holes—highlighted by a spectacular 45-foot putt over a slope on the seventh—as he thrilled an ecstatic crowd at Trump International Ireland.
He capped off his performance by sinking a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole. Even before the ball reached the cup, Lowry was already raising his arms in celebration. Given his sensational performance throughout the tournament, it was a perfectly appropriate end.
“This is absolutely unbelievable,” a tearful Lowry remarked. “I couldn’t be more thrilled.”
With a total score of 23-under 257, he eclipsed the previous tournament record of 264, set by Jon Rahm at Lahinch five years earlier, by seven strokes. His 11-shot margin of victory over Patrick Reed (who shot 64) and Joaquin Niemann (who shot 67) also established a new tournament record for the widest winning margin, surpassing Bernhard Langer’s 10-shot win at Portmarnock back in 1987.
This victory marks Lowry’s second Irish Open title, coming nearly two decades after his initial triumph as an amateur. His career has reached immense heights in the intervening years, including a Major victory at the 2019 Open Championship in Royal Portrush and sinking the decisive putt for the victorious European Ryder Cup team last autumn.
“While strolling down the final fairway, I was thinking that nothing could ever top Portrush or the excitement of last year,” Lowry shared. “Yet, here we are.”
The current season had presented its fair share of challenges. He previously seemed poised to win the Cognizant Classic in Florida, only to stumble late in the round and finish in a tie for second place. Prior to this dominant display at Doonbeg, he had failed to secure another top-10 finish all year.
“He was in a great position at the Cognizant earlier this season, but it seemed like his year stalled after that setback. It definitely took a toll on him,” remarked Rory McIlroy, who carded a final-round 67 to finish tied for 41st. “Seeing him lead the pack here is fantastic, and the entire nation—myself very much included—wanted to see him lift the trophy.”
His victory was never in doubt under the overcast skies of the Atlantic coast, with Trump observing the action from a spectator box as he concluded his weekend visit to Ireland.
Reed, who began the day trailing by ten strokes, put on an early charge with six birdies over his opening ten holes. However, his momentum stalled there, leaving him tied for runner-up honors but still allowing him to widen his advantage over McIlroy in the Race to Dubai standings.
Lowry’s victory margin was the second-biggest on the European tour this year. Yurav Premlall of South Africa won by 14 shots against a weak field at the Catalunya Championship in May.
“I guess I don’t believe in doing things by halves,” Lowry laughed. “It feels surreal to see my name at the very top of the board. On the 14th hole, right after making a birdie, I admitted to my caddie that I had no idea where we stood. I asked, ‘What’s the situation? What’s our lead?’ and he simply replied, ‘It’s plenty.’ That was all I needed to hear.”
