Shane Lowry getting sick of disappointment

Shane Lowry admitted he was growing tired of feeling as disappointed as he was last night after an opening-round two-over-par 72 at Royal Birkdale.

It is not the first time the 30-year-old Irishman has been left frustrated by a first day at The Open having been full of confidence 24 hours earlier, but Lowry remains optimistic he will soon be suitably rewarded for a game that yesterday did not give back what he felt it deserved.

After a round of three birdies, three bogies and a double bogey at the par-four 16th, he will start his second round at 3.21pm today having finished the first day seven shots off the pace set by the US trio of Jordan Spieth, Matt Kuchar, and Brooks Koepka. It is not a desperate situation given today’s forecast of wet windy and weather. Yet in the immediate aftermath of his opening 72, Lowry could not help but feel he should have been in a much more advantageous position.