Distracted Lowry looks on bright side

Shane Lowry secured his best finish in nearly a year but two crowd distractions over the closing holes in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews cost him victory.

The sound of a spectator’s camera led to a bogey at 13 and while Lowry also missed a three-foot par putt two holes later, the Clara golfer admitted he was also distracted on the final green by crowd noise at the 17th that resulted in him leaving his birdie putt short. In the end he fell a shot shy of making the eventual play-off.

England’s David Howell (67) ended his seven-year winless drought to birdie the second extra play-off hole and defeat American Peter Uihlein (69) after both players ended regulation play tied on 23 under par.