Record-equalling 62 sets up Lowry for British Open ticket

SHANE LOWRY scored a course record-equalling 62 on the Old Course, Sunningdale, to earn himself a place in next month’s British Open at St Andrews yesterday.

The 23-year-old, who won last year’s Irish Open as an amateur, will now play his first major after matching one of Nick Faldo’s best-ever rounds, setting the record in the 1986 European Open.

Lowry, only one under par at the turn during his morning round, started for home with six successive birdies and by pitching to 18 inches at the 425-yard 17th he was able to equal the joint lowest score of Faldo’s European Tour career. “I’ve been struggling on the greens and confidence was a bit low, so I changed my putter this morning,” said Lowry. “After nine holes I said to my caddie I’m going to have to be patient and it certainly paid off. St Andrews is going to be great. I said at the start of the year it’s one tournament I wanted to play.”