In the biggest victory of his career to date, Shane Lowry stretched a four-shot 54-hole lead into a six-shot victory at Royal Portrush and the 2019 Open Championship.
The question then was understandable as the 37-year-old sat in front of the media Friday at Royal Troon, a second-round 69 putting him, at the moment, two shots ahead of the field the 2024 Open.
Are you a good frontrunner?
The response, delivered in a droll Irish accent, was vintage Lowry.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a good runner.”
(Cue the laughter.)
Indeed, self-deprecation has long been Lowry’s calling card, but in recent years self-awareness is also something he’s become familiar with. Building off an opening-round 66 that left him one back of overnight leader Daniel Brown, Lowry made the turn Friday in two under and claimed the top spot on the leaderboard. But then there was trouble on the par-4 11th, a wayward second shot after being distracted by a cameraman, followed by a well-intended fan finding a ball Lowry was hoping he’d lost and a 20-minute rules discussion that felt more like 40.
Eventually, Lowry salvaged a double-bogey 6. What he did from there illustrated how he’s matured as a player.
“To be honest, I was happy enough leaving there with a 6. It was not like … it wasn’t a disaster. I was still leading the tournament.”
After a quick chat with his caddie to gather himself, Lowry put it behind him, stripping his drive on the difficult par-4 12th hole and knocking his approach to 30 feet. “I think the 12th hole for me was key. I hit driver, 4-iron there too, the best shots I’ve hit all week. … From then on, I felt like down out of the left coming in, it was playing quite difficult, but I felt like you could give yourself chances on the way in, and that’s what I did.”
Birdies on the 16th and 18th holes got Lowry back to seven under and the clubhouse lead.
Mind you, Lowry’s initial reaction on the 11th contained a bit of rage. Then again, Lowry isn’t one to hid his emotions on the course. The difference now from compared to his younger days is that Lowry continues to learn how to control those emotions rather than let them get the best of him.
“I don’t know, like I can get a bit down on myself and a bit hot headed at times, but I really feel like that’s why I’ve had the career I’ve had,” Lowry said. “I’ve spoken to people, my coach and my team about this at times, and if I go out there and try to be somebody I’m not, you’re just not going to be successful. That’s how I feel.
“Yeah, like I say it all the time, if I go out there and be myself, I feel like I can do very well. So allow myself to do that, and yes, without getting in your own way. It can help you at times.”
Shane Lowry interacts with caddie Darren Reynolds on the 18th green following his second round at Royal Troon – Stuart Kerr/R&A
What will help Lowry the rest of this week is having been in contention at the Open before. He knows he’ll be off late on Saturday, his tee time likely to be well past 3 p.m. He’ll know how to manage the time and be prepared as best he can. Whether that’s enough or not remains to be seen.
One thing Lowry won’t be doing as he waits to get back out on the course: Go for a run.
Main Image: Luke Walker/R&A
