Shane Lowry | Chronicles of a Champion Golfer

However, while the third round brought nothing but enjoyment for Lowry, he soon realised a much more stressful experience lay ahead. The Irishman was looking to hold on to a four-shot lead three years on from losing the same advantage in the final round of the U.S. Open at Oakmont.

“I hadn't won anything, but I had so much to lose,” he explained. “I said one thing to my coach on Sunday morning. I said to him 'there's no in between today - it's either gonna be one of the best days of my life or one of my worst'.

“People say to you to go and enjoy it, 'you're in a great place, enjoy the final round'. Don't be stupid, I'm not gonna enjoy it. It's gonna be horrible!

“I got up, I barely had breakfast, I didn't have lunch. I genuinely think if I didn't win on that Sunday I still wouldn't be over it. It took me a while to get over Oakmont, but this was a whole bigger deal than Oakmont. The first tee on Sunday was probably one of the hardest places I've ever been.”

Lowry’s nerves were heightened as he struggled on Portrush’s opening hole. As he readied himself for a seven-foot bogey putt, his nearest rival, Tommy Fleetwood, had a presentable birdie chance.

“If Tommy holes that and I miss, all of a sudden I'm one ahead,” said Lowry. “Fifteen minutes earlier I was four ahead.

“And Tommy missed his putt and I holed mine. I lost a shot but I went to the tee feeling like I'd gained a shot.”

Lowry’s lead was never less than three thereafter and he was finally able to start enjoying the moment after birdieing the 15th to move six clear with three to play.

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