Sky’s the limit for Irish pair this summer

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry left Chambers Bay tied for ninth at the US Open and sharing optimism for the summer’s golf ahead.

There was clearly disappointment for both Irishmen, who both felt that an opportunity to win had slipped from their grasps last weekend. But both world number one McIlroy and Lowry, up to 45 in the rankings, take plenty of positives with them into the next phase of the season and July’s Open Championship in particular.

While Lowry heads to Germany for this week’s BMW International Open convinced he is on the verge of a long-awaited second professional tournament victory, McIlroy will touch down in Belfast today determined to improve the putting that made this US Open one that got away from him.