2019 The Open Wrap-Up

Golf fans all over the world were treated to a fantastic display of golf at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, where Irish native Shane Lowry handled the tough Sunday conditions to win The Open by six strokes over Tommy Fleetwood. Shane began the final round with a 4-stroke lead over Fleetwood, but an early bogey at the first trimmed the lead to three. Birdies on the 4th, 5th, and 7th holes gave Lowry a five-stroke advantage, but it was around that time when the rain and winds increased dramatically. Despite making bogeys on the 8th, 9th, and 11th holes, Shane only lost one shot to Fleetwood.

The turning point in the tournament occurred on the 14th, where Tommy Fleetwood’s tee shot found the bunker, and after a wayward approach, he struggled to make a double-bogey 6. Shane Lowry’s birdie on 15 opened up a six-shot lead, and with his three closing pars, the result was a 1-over par 72 and his first major championship victory. He joins Padraig Harrington as the only other major champion from the Republic of Ireland, and is only the 6th Irishmen to ever win a major.

Northern Ireland star and 4-time major champion Rory McIlroy made a quadruple-bogey 8 to start his championship bid, and despite a 6-under 65, he missed the 36-hole cut. Also, Tiger Woods had first-round struggles as well, and his 76-70 in his first two rounds sent him home early.

Next week, the PGA and European Tours head to Memphis, Tennessee for the WGC - FedEx St. Jude Invitational.