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Scenes from Esker Hills golf club in Co Offaly, Shane Lowry’s home club, as he claimed The Open Championship. A year after being reduced to tears by the state of his game at Carnoustie, Shane Lowry claimed his first major title in commanding fashion in the 148th Open at Royal Portrush. Roared on by a sell-out crowd undeterred by the miserable conditions, Lowry carded a closing 72 to become the fifth Irish player to lift the Claret Jug after Fred Daly, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy. The 32-year-old from Offaly finished 15 under par, six shots ahead of England's Tommy Fleetwood, with American Tony Finau two strokes further back in third. World number one Brooks Koepka, who was attempting to become the first player in the modern era to finish in the top two in all four majors in a calendar year, had to settle for a share of fourth with Lee Westwood, a result which secured the 46-year-old a first Masters appearance since 2017 next April.