PORTRUSH, Ireland (AP) No longer in the shadows of Irish golf, Shane Lowry now has his name etched on the base of the silver claret jug.
Its on there with more than a centurys worth of the best that have conquered the links to win the British Open. Lowry gazed at the oldest trophy in golf as he tried to soak up his storybook finish Sunday at Royal Portrush, a course wet from rain and then from tears.
I cant believe this is mine, Lowry said after his six-shot victory.
He earned his place with a 63 in the third round that broke the 54-hole scoring record at the British Open and staked him to a four-shot lead. And then he handled the nerves and expectations, both in abundance, and never let anyone closer than three shots.
A year ago, Lowry sat in a parking lot at Carnoustie and cried after missing the cut in the British Open for the fourth straight year.
Golf wasnt my friend at the time, he said.
And there he was Sunday, in rain and wind so ferocious that pars felt like birdies, never giving anyone much of a chance as he closed with a 1-over 72 for the largest margin of victory in the Open in nine years.
Lowry isnt afraid to be honest, and he didnt mind telling caddie Bo Martin that he was nervous, scared and worried he would mess up for a raucous, rollicking crowd that wanted nothing more than to celebrate with him.
I suppose I didnt even know going out this morning if I was good enough to win a major, Lowry said. And look, Im here now, a major champion. I cant believe Im saying it, to be honest.
So many others in the Irish golf community can.
Graeme McDowell recalls a story from famed swing coach Pete Cowen, who long ago traveled to Dublin to scout the Irish Boys golf team. They were curious about his views on the obvious star a teenager named Rory McIlroy except that Cowen saw more.
The guy said, Who you like? And he said, Rory McIlroy looks pretty good, but that slightly overweight kid with the glasses on … he looks good, McDowell said. So hes always been talented.
That kid was Lowry, so talented that he was still an amateur 10 years ago when he won the Irish Open at County Louth.
McDowell remembers something else about that Irish Open, the first time he met Lowry.
I just shot 61 at Baltray, and he came in and shot 62, McDowell said. And he didnt even introduce himself. He said, I cant believe you beat me by one out there. And Im like, Whos this kid?
That kid is now champion golfer of the year.
