Shane Lowry takes the rough with the smooth

In a week that has seen many of the world’s top golfers decry the condition of Chambers Bay’s greens and take shots at the USGA’s set-up, Shane Lowry avoided the negativity and simply got on with negotiating 72 holes of the most gruelling challenge in golf.

And as he looked forward to a potentially career-defining day at the US Open, the Irishman starting his final round just three shots off the lead in a wide-open race for the second major championship title of the season, there was no way he was about to start criticising the tournament organisers for the way they had presented this year’s course.

When Lowry (28), sees a course he likes it is a good sign the world number 57 is in good week. Such as at Baltray six years ago when he announced his presence on the scene by winning the Irish Open as an amateur. Or at Wentworth where the Clara, Co Offaly, native racked up another top-10 finish in the BMW PGA Championship last month.