Shane Lowry buries his 2026 'demons' with record-breaking Irish Open victory

Seventeen years after landing the title at County Louth as an amateur, Lowry emulated the feat as a professional by storming to a record 11-shot victory at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel at Doonbeg in County Clare.

Four shots ahead at the start of the day, the 2019 Open champion produced a last-round links masterclass to land a seventh DP World Tour victory and first in just under four years.

It was a sore one for Lowry when he let the Dubai Invitational slip from his grasp at Dubai Creek back in January before “throwing away” a three-shot lead a few weeks later in the Cognizant Classic on the PGA Tour in Florida.

From the moment he carded a course-record 62 on Friday, though, the 39-year-old teed up his chance to make amends for those disappointments and, to the delight of a huge home crowd, it was job done as he signed off with a 63 for a 23-under-par total.

Celebrating with an almighty roar as he rolled in a closing birdie for a dream ending, Lowry’s stunning performance was applauded by Trump as he watched on from the side of the green.

“I mean, this year has been quite difficult on the course for me,” admitted Lowry. “I’ve had a few chances to win and I’ve had quite a few demons. Yeah, to come here this week and do this, like come on. I don’t do things by half measures. I can’t believe I am standing here looking at that leaderboard, oh my god!

“I didn’t know how I was doing and I said to my caddie after holing a birdie putt on 15, ‘how far ahead are we?’ and he said ‘far enough’. Look, a lot of things went right for me, but this has been the most spectacular week. It’s just mad - I can’t believe it.

“When things are not going well at this level, it’s hard at home as well, but my wife and my kids have been a huge support. I love them so much and this is for them. My daughter is always asking me ‘when are you going to bring a trophy home’, so, yeah, I am bringing one home.”

Lowry landed his Open win on Irish soil at Royal Portrush and also enjoyed another memorable moment when holing a crucial putt in last year’s Ryder Cup in New York as Europe held on to the trophy in the face of a last-day fightback from the Americans.

“Obviously Portrush was incredible; Bethpage last year was incredible,” he added. “I keep feeling I can’t better it, but look at this (gesturing to the fans celebrating around the 18th green). I sat at Croke Park last Saturday night watching (Irish boxing legend) Katie Taylor with almost a bit of jealousy about what she was achieving and getting to do it in front of her home fans and now this week I get to do this. It’s incredible.”

In finishing joint-second with Chile’s Joaquin Niemman, Patrick Reed cemented his position as the Race to Dubai leader from Rory McIlroy, who, in ended up a staggering 22 shots behind Lowry, had to settle for a share of 41st position as the defending champion.

Ewen Ferguson signed off with a bogey-free 64 to finish joint-ninth on eight under. It was the Scot’s fifth top-ten finish of the year, jumping seven spots to 38th in the Race to Dubai Ranking.

In his first DP World Tour outing since the Genesis Scottish Open, Bob MacIntyre also finished in the top 15, closing with a 68 for a six-under total to jump six places on the points list to 74th.

In the battle to finish in the top 100, David Law is up eight spots to 108th after a 66 saw him tie for 23rd on four under, with Calum Hill (three under) and Connor Syme (one over) finishing 31st and 53rd respectively.