Shane Lowry wins Amgen Irish Open by a whopping 11 shots over Patrick Reed, Joaquin Niemann - Golfweek
At first glance, the three names at the top of the leaderboard at the Amgen Irish Open were eyecatching. But upon further review, this really wasn't much of a Sunday showdown. No, it was more of a walk in the park for Shane Lowry, who cruised to a record 11-shot win over Patrick Reed and Joaquin Niemann in Doonbeg, Ireland.
Lowry, who had one of the more disappointing seasons on the PGA Tour, sparked his week on home soil with a second-round 62. He shot 65 in Saturday's third round before easing into the trophy ceremony with a 7-under 63, finishing his week with a rousing birdie on the 18th hole.
Lowry was being rooted on by many, including Irish Open defending champion and good buddy Rory McIlroy, who shot 74 on Saturday but closed with a Sunday 67.
"It would be absolutely incredible," McIlroy said. "He had a couple of chances earlier this year. ... I felt like he never got going with his season after that, it knocked him back a little bit. To see him in contention out there, obviously the whole country would love to see him get it done, me included."
"This year has been quite difficult on the course for me, I had a few chances to win and had some really tough times," said Lowry, who let a potential escape his grasp in March ath the Cognizant Classic. "To come here this week and do this, I don't do things by half measures. I can't believe I'm standing here with that leaderboard."
The thoughts and words kept flowing.
"A lot of things went right for me, but this has been the most spectacular week. Just everything about it, it's just mad. I can't believe it," Lowry continued. "When things aren't going well at this level, it's hard at home as well and my wife and kids have been a huge support and I love them so much. I'm so happy, this is for them. I can't wait to bring a trophy home, my daughter keeps asking 'when will you bring a trophy home?'. So yes, I can bring one home.
"Honestly I'm speechless, it's hard to talk, I just can't believe I've just done that and done it the way I've done it as well."
Lowry, 39, earned his seventh DP World Tour win and his second Irish Open. His first came 17 years ago when he was a 22-year-old amateur. That year he also shot 62 en route to victory.
This year, he started Saturday's third round with a three-shot lead and after briefly being tied atop the leaderboard midway through, he would rebuild things and take a four-shot lead into Sunday.
Reed and Niemann finished 12 under. Rasmus Neergaard-Peterson was solo fourth at 11 under while Tom McKibbin, Gergorio de Leo and Jacob Skov Olesen tied for fifth at 10 under. Other scores of note: Alex Fitzpatrick, solo fifth at 9 under, Sergio Garcia, Robert MacIntyre and Haotong Li T-14 at 6 under, Jon Rahm in a group of five tied for 23rd at 4 under, McIlory T-41 at 1 under.
