Local Irish hero Shane Lowry goes for glory in The Open

Local Irish hero Shane Lowry goes for glory in The Open: ‘Lazy’ golfer who was teased about his weight and wishes he was a rock star takes six shot lead as players battle the elements to be crowned champion

  • Irishman was enjoying a six stroke lead over Tommy Fleetwood at 4.30pm 
  • Weather conditions are set to worsen, with 35mph gusts later this afternoon 
  • Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood in second place but he faces an uphill battle
  • For minute by minute updates visit our live blog  

Local Irish favourite Shane Lowry is closing down on glory in the final day of The Open at Royal Portrush today amid torrid weather conditions. 

The ‘lazy’ gofer, who was teased about he weight and once said he wished he was a rock star, was enjoying a six stroke lead over England’s Tommy Fleetwood at 4.25pm as he looks to win his first major.

He faces a race against time as heavy rain and 16mph lash the course in Northern Ireland. 

Shane Lowry was enjoying a six stroke lead over Tommy Fleetwood at 3.15pm as he looks to win his first major and he may well need every shot if things deteriorate as predicted

Fleetwood at a rainy Royal Portrush today, where the current light rain and 16mph winds give way to heavier downpours and 35mph gusts later on

 Fleetwood at a rainy Royal Portrush today, where the current light rain and 16mph winds give way to heavier downpours and 35mph gusts later on

Spectators leap into puddles at Royal Portrush as heavy rain continues to cause problems for the golfer

Spectators leap into puddles at Royal Portrush as heavy rain continues to cause problems for the golfer

Lowry, who has a daughter, Iris, with his nurse wife Wendy Honnor, has captured the public’s imagination with his down-to-earth approach. 

He recently admitted he uses Love Island to relax and added, ‘We’ve got a good Irishman on there now’. 

Now he faces the fight of his life to triumph against the elements to win a £1.5million payday. 

First man out Ashton Turner carded a 68 to show what was possible but he benefited from the calmest and driest conditions.

Of those out on the course former Open champion Stewart Cink and Dutchman Joost Luiten had three birdies in their first seven holes to get to three under for the tournament.

Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat was also three under for his round, although that was only good enough to get him back to two over.

England’s Paul Casey enjoyed a good start to his 42nd birthday with two early birdies to return to level par.

It was a long way behind Lowry, on 16 under, but only four outside the top 20 with that likely to improve if the weather arrives as predicted.

Strong winds and rain meant the chances for the players hoping to catch Lowry – led by Fleetwood at 10 under and Lee Westwood at -8. 

Lowry

Fleetwood

Lowry lines up a put (left) and Fleetwood hits an iron off the fairway in photos of today’s action 

Fleetwood and Lowry greet each other on the first tee at the start of their round today

Fleetwood and Lowry greet each other on the first tee at the start of their round today 

A sea of raincoats and umbrellas among the watching crowds at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland today

A sea of raincoats and umbrellas among the watching crowds at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland today 

Lowry with his wife, Wendy, and their young daughter, Iris, at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championships

Lowry with his wife, Wendy, and their young daughter, Iris, at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championships 

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