The luck of the Irish is upon us. The Open celebrated their return to Ireland after a 68 year break and the Irish did not let us down. Drama, excitement, sell out crowds and a native Irish lad wins the Claret Jug. Hollywood could not have written this script any better.
Let’s begin with the first two days of competition and down goes Tiger and Phil – two gold icons gone. Not even a run at the cut, just bad golf and done. Then there is the Irish favorite, Rory McIlroy starting the tournament off with a snowman on the first hole. 4 over and only one hole played was not a good sign of things to come. As the sun went down Rory finished the day with a missed 10 inch put and a 79 on the scorecard. Irish eyes were crying. But now the drama kicks in Friday morning and slowly Rory starts making birdies and clawing his way towards the cut line. Unfortunately, not all stories end happy and Rory ran out of holes and birdies. Remember that missed 10-inch putt? Rory missed the cut by one stroke.
Then the JB Holmes woke up and started making everything he looked at and went to bed Friday night with the lead. Then the weekend kicked in and so did Shane Lowry’s game. The Irishman took a decisive 54-hole lead that broke the Open record at -16 under and a 4-stroke lead over Tommy Fleetwood. The tee times were moved up for Sunday to avoid the late afternoon storms and it only fired up Shane to bring home the championship. As everyone stalled out but Lowry continued on, inspired by the crowds and his trusty caddy. The winds picked up and scores flew. JB Holmes went from contender to the worst score of the day – 87 – and could only think what could have been.
The Open is in the history books will show Champion golfer Shane Lowry but the real winner was Ireland. The country beauty was put on worldwide stage and didn’t disappoint. The Open has a new course in the rotation – Royal Portrush. Irish eyes are crying with pride.