Diplomat Shane Lowry plays a blinder in Portrush

Of all the challenges Shane Lowry had to overcome in Portrush last week, none was more persistent or annoying than the American journalist who insisted on pestering the Irish golfer — and the others from the island — with questions about the symbolism of an Open Championship held in Northern Ireland.

If you thought Lowry’s performance around the Dunluce Links was impressive, then you should have thrown an ear at those press conferences when the particular reporter’s entreaties for a deep, considered reply on the intricacies of North-South relations, religious differences, etc were so expertly handled. Lowry played him like he would a pitching wedge from 20 feet.