Lowry looks to future after red-hot finish

Shane Lowry sparkled on the final day of The Open to earn his highest finish in a major but fall agonisingly short of the world top-50 ranking he craved.

Lowry shot a course-record equalling 65, seven under par and bogey free, to finish the tournament on 10 under, coming off the course in a tie for fourth place at that stage as behind him Rory McIlroy chased the Claret Jug.

That would have given Esker Hills golfer Lowry, runner-up at Wentworth in May and fourth in last week’s Scottish Open, a career-high rankings jump from number 68 into the top -50 to book a ticket to the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in two weeks, with the promise of a similar boost to his Race To Dubai and Ryder Cup prospects with a continuation of his good form at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.