'I'd A Great Chance Of Winning This Open' - Shane Lowry Admits Troon Near Miss Will 'Hurt'
Shane Lowry thought he'd be heading back to Royal Portrush next year as Open champion again as he felt he was playing well enough to win at Troon
![Shane Lowry at the 2024 Open](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ngiqa8QKp7yTasbQmRCdSj-415-80.jpg)
A sixth-placed finish at The Open left Shane Lowry feeling like a second Claret Jug has slipped through his fingers as he felt he "played unbelievable golf all week" at Royal Troon.
The 2019 Champion Golfer of the Year at Royal Portrush had the 152nd Open in his grasp when he led by three shots on Saturday before conditions got the better of him.
Lowry's third-round 77 saw him start Sunday four shots off the lead, and despite a rousing 68 on Sunday, that could've been a few shots better, he could not bridge the gap on Xander Schauffele.
Although proud of how he managed to respond to Saturday's huge body blow, Lowry lamented: "It wasn't good enough and it's very disappointing."
"There's no two ways about it," he added. "I'd a great chance of winning this Open and it's going to hurt for a few days."
Lowry is still keen to view the entire week as a positive overall, with the Olympics to look forward to in Paris, but his desire to win a second Major is clear.
"How could you not look back on it positively, a chance to win The Open?" Lowry continued. "Obviously the critics and whatnot will say that I probably should have won from where I was yesterday afternoon, but it's not easy out there. It's not easy to win tournaments like this.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
"I did everything I could. Unfortunately, I came up short. Hopefully over the next five to ten years I give myself another few chances in tournaments like this and get one more.
"Like I said at the start of the week, all I want is one more."
Lowry on Portrush return
Lowry will be a star attraction next year at Portrush as he returns to the scene of his incredible victory - but for a long time he was the best player on the course at Troon and thought he'd be going back to Northern Ireland as the reigning Open champion.
"Honestly all week, the way I was playing, I thought I'm going to be going back to Portrush with the Claret Jug as well," said Lowry. "That could be pretty cool. I was very confident with how I was playing this week.
"I'm sure going back to Portrush will have its challenges next year for me with some demands and people are going to be talking about me a little bit more than they were in 2019. But, yeah, I'll go back, and I'll enjoy it.
"Who knows between now and then what's going to happen. We have a lot of good golf to play. Hopefully I'll be going back, you never know, as an Olympic medalist or a major champion or something. That would be pretty cool."
Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website. Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush.
-
Great Britain And Ireland Curtis Cup Star Sara Byrne Turns Professional
The Irish player, who went unbeaten at the Sunningdale match, has announced on Instagram she has left her amateur career behind
By Mike Hall Published
-
Former PGA Tour Pro Opens Up On Battles With Alcoholism
Steve Wheatcroft has opened up on his issues, which came to the surface in 2019, three years after he retired from the game
By Mike Hall Published
-
'It's Something I've Always Wanted' - Xander Schauffele Reveals Grand Slam Ambition After Open Victory
Xander Schauffele says he's always had an eye on winning a career Grand Slam even before he became a quick-fire double Major champion
By Paul Higham Published
-
'Nonsense. That's Links Golf Courses' - Paul McGinley Says Shane Lowry Will 'Regret' Open Set-Up Comments
The Golf Channel analyst labelled Lowry's call to have a couple of tees pushed forward on Saturday "nonsense" after the 2019 Open Champion was mildly critical of how the R&A had set Royal Troon up in bad weather
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Watch The Moment World No.1 Scottie Scheffler Tops A Tee Shot At The Open
The American had a moment to forget on the final hole of The Open at Royal Troon
By Mike Hall Published
-
‘I Just Looked At It As A Normal Sunday Of A Normal Golf Tournament’ - Thriston Lawrence Explains ‘Calm’ Mindset To Finish Fourth At The Open
The South African admitted he was far from overawed at the occasion as he claimed his best-ever finish at a Major with fourth at The Open
By Mike Hall Published
-
‘I Left It All Out There’ - Justin Rose Admits ‘Choking Back Tears’ After Close Call At The Open
The Englishman's wait for a second Major championship goes on after he finished in a tie for second alongside Billy Horschel at Royal Troon
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Billy Horschel 'Disappointed' Despite Best Ever Major Finish At The Open
Despite a three-under-par final round, the American left Royal Troon 'disappointed' after finishing two strokes behind fellow countryman, Xander Schauffele
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Xander Schauffele Reveals Caddie Told Him He 'Was About To Puke' On 18th On Way To Open Win
The Open champion has admitted his caddie Austin Kaiser was struggling to keep it together as Schauffele closed in on the Claret Jug
By Mike Hall Published
-
Dan Brown Didn't Win The 2024 Open, But Here's Everything He Gets After An Incredible Week At Royal Troon
Despite not lifting the Claret Jug, the Englishman enjoyed a brilliant Major debut and has earned several perks as a result...
By Jonny Leighfield Published