Graeme McDowell counts blessings as Shane Lowry goes off-road at The Open

Graeme McDowell felt Shane Lowry’s pain when he heard his fellow Irishman had seen his Open Championship hopes take a sharp nosedive at St Andrews’ 17th hole on the opening morning.

Lowry, 28, had come into this week’s Open buzzing with confidence and with all around him talking about a breakthrough at major championships that would propel the world No. 45 into golf’s big time.

He is still not out of it yet as he tees off today at one over par following a first-round 73, matched by 2011 champion Darren Clarke, but Lowry will know his score should have been so much better.