Shane Lowry, the winner of the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, is feeling optimistic about his chances at winning a second title at Royal Troon in 2024. Lowry is currently leading the tournament by two strokes after carding a two-under 69 in challenging conditions, with winds reaching up to 30mph.
Despite a double bogey on the 11th hole, Lowry managed to steady himself with four straight pars and finished strong with birdies on the 16th and 18th. He credits his past experience at Portrush for helping him stay focused and confident in the face of tough competition from players like Justin Rose and Dan Brown.
Rose, a former US Open champion, is still in the hunt for his first Open title since 2013. He put together a solid round in difficult conditions and is currently tied for second place with Brown. Brown, a relative newcomer to the scene, is feeling confident in his abilities on links courses and is excited to continue challenging the top players in the world.
Lowry’s success at Troon so far has been fueled by the support of the Irish crowd, reminiscent of the atmosphere at Portrush. He acknowledges the importance of enjoying the moment and staying focused on his game as he heads into the weekend rounds of the tournament.
With top players like Lowry, Rose, and Brown all in contention, the stage is set for an exciting finish to the Open Championship at Royal Troon. Fans can follow all the action with live radio and text commentary on the BBC Sport website.