Shane Lowry wins the Open at Royal Portrush and claims his first major in career

Irishman Shane Lowry has exorcised the ghosts of Oakmont to win his first major title as a fashion leader at the 148th Open at Royal Portrush.

Driven by 72 people, Lowry became the fifth Irish player to lift the Claret Jug after Fred Daly, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy.

The 32-year-old native of Offaly has 15 under-shot shots, six shots ahead of Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and American Tony Finau with two shots up from third.

World number one Brooks Koepka, who was trying to become the first player of the modern era to rank in the top two of the four major tournaments of the same year, had to settle for fourth place with Lee Westwood, a result that has badured the 46 years a first appearance at the master's since 2017 next April.

Three years after failing to convert a four-shot lead in the last round of the US Open at Oakmont, Lowry took the same advantage on the final day of the first Open held outside of Scotland. or from England since the triumph of Max Faulkner at Portrush in 1951.

Apparently nervous, Lowry fired his shot and looked anxiously as his ball headed inland which had cost so much pre-competition favorite Rory McIlroy on Thursday.

In the same way, wandering trainings had also led to two bogeys for Rickie Fowler and JB Holmes, but Lowry's ball was badly hit and plunged into the brutal ground, from where he had found a green side bunker to his approach.

Fleetwood had found the fairway on the tee and had a great second shot at six feet, but had missed his birdie attempt and, after a mediocre bunker shot and a shy putt, Lowry kept his cool in the hole for only his fourth bogey of the week.

Fleetwood, who also missed a good birdie opportunity in the second run of the fifth inning, made a bogey in the third and Lowry cleared a birdie on the fourth goal which was greeted with huge cheering from the audience.

The two players scored the fifth goal before Lowry showed his talent for the short game against Harrington, arguing as he moved from green to seventh to take another shot.

Lowry, who won the 2009 Ireland Open as an amateur in bad weather, seemed to have total control before three bogeys in the following four holes were combined and the birdie of Fleetwood on the 12th reduces the gap to four.

Fleetwood, however, could not turn the screw and double bogeyed on the 14th after finding sand on the tee, which means that Lowry was increasing his lead to five, though he was not able to save the normal of the green.

Lowry, who fired his junior after the first round of last year's Open and missed the cup for the fourth year in a row, took the title in his hands and a bird of the 15th sang "Ole, Ole, Ole "Dunluce links.

It also meant that Lowry's name was engraved on the Claret vase just as he was entering the 18th tee and that a regulatory setting sealed an emphatic triumph, Lowry hugging his caddy Brian 'Bo'. Martin before being kissed by his wife Wendy and old daughter Iris.

Expressing after receiving the Claret Jug at the 18th green, Lowry said, "What can I say? I just have a lot of people to thank, first and foremost the R & A for a such event.

"Having an Open here on the Island of Ireland and Royal Portrush is amazing, I love this place and being able to come here to play an Open was great.

"A lot of people on my behind-the-scenes team: my coach Neil (Manchip), my caddy Bo, my management team – I certainly would not be standing here without them."

Lowry put down his tears when he spoke about his parents, adding, "They sacrificed so much for me when I was younger and I am so happy to be able to hand them this trophy tonight.

"My wife and my little girl, welcoming them here today is just amazing.

"Finally, the volunteers and all the fans, thank you very much, this one is for you."