The Clara native was in great form, until the Skins game got going.
Shane Lowry was doling out golfing history lessons as he got down to brass tacks and prepared for another run at The Open Championship.
The 2019 champion golfer, who claimed the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush, is at Hoylake, this week, to have another crack at one of the game’s four majors. After a middling start to 2023, Lowry have hit upon a better patch of form and can be found much higher up leaderboards. He has five Top 20s in his last six outings.
On Monday, Lowry headed out with fellow Irishmen Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington for a practice round that included a skins game, to keep everyone on their toes.
As the trio milled around near the first tee, Thorbjørn Olesen, a fellow golfer asked if they had a tee-time. The Offaly native was incredulous at the thought of being made wait around too long. With a broad grin on his face, Lowry declared:
“We’ve f***ing four Claret Jugs here, lads!”
"We've got four Claret Jugs here."
McIlroy, Lowry and Harrington had some light-hearted preparation today.
Watch the trio and more with Inside The Open 👉 https://t.co/yjlAYH9y9P pic.twitter.com/gI15HZSvRE
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2023
Shane Lowry taking on McIlroy and Harrington in skins game
The content team up at The Open are killing it this year, and there are some great, longer clips up on their YouTube page.
We see some of the Irish trio’s skins game as Shane Lowry’s caddy exclaims, ‘Wow, wallop’ after a thumping Rory McIlroy drive. “I’ll follow that up, so,” remarks Lowry.
Up on the green, though, McIlroy lets out a moan as Lowry sinks a birdie putt. In the background, Padraig Harrington jokes, “Glad I started on a tenner! 50 quid for the second.”
McIlroy responds with a birdie of his own and that hole was carried over. He then speaks about being ‘in a good spot’ and finding an old club in the garage that is doing him wonders.
On the fourth hole, Lowry pings one closer to the hole that McIlroy but the four-time major winner sinks his putt and Lowry can’t respond. “F** off!” he exclaims, and McIlroy pumps his arms in celebration. By winning the hole, McIlroy picked up four skins
Although McIlroy opted out of a Tuesday press conference, he did oblige with a chat to The Open crew on the range, with some interesting insights here:
An action-packed first day at Royal Liverpool.
See some of the best moments from Live at The Range.
It starts all again tomorrow from 9am BST. pic.twitter.com/r2LqMIE29I
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2023
After claiming the Scottish Open, on Sunday, thanks to a birdie-birdie finish that pipped local favourite Bob McIntyre, Rory McIlroy was asked how big of a boost that was, heading into The Open.
McIlroy had earlier referred to a 2013 win he had in Australia, when he was a shot behind Adam Scott with two to play. Again, he leaned on that and added:
“Yeah, it is. It’s nice to have the validation. The validation; it’s great racking up top 5s, top 10s, but it’s much nicer heading away with a trophy on Sunday afternoon.
“It’s a great shot of confidence. Again, going back to that little nugget about the Australian Open in 2013, having something fresh in my memory if I hopefully find myself in a similar position next week where I’ve got a chance to win with nine holes to go, I can certainly draw on what I did here today; that I can get.”
Related links:
- Leona Maguire sets sights on majors after securing second LPGA win
- Professional golf takes the money and runs as PGA Tour and LIV Golf merge
- “Best shot I’ve hit all year” – Incredible Rory McIlroy finish sees him claim Scottish Open
- Full Swing: Best quotes, weirdest moments and wildest finishes from new Netflix documentary
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