Shane Lowry: ‘Cautious aggression’ more virtuous than patience on Old Course

It needed mental strength to survive a gruelling US Open at Chambers Bay but Shane Lowry will need a different approach if he is to get the job done this week at The Open Championship.

Lowry came of age in America last month, tying for ninth in the US Open as others fell by the wayside, unable to conquer their negativity about the condition of the course and USGA set-up.

Heading into Thursday’s opening round at St Andrews, however, Ireland’s leading player in the absence of injured defending champion Rory McIlroy — up one place to 45 in the latest official world rankings — believes patience will be less of a virtue around a soft Old Course.