Shane Lowry turns thoughts to Olympic medal after Open effort

OVER TO THE OLYMPICS: Shane Lowry will reset his sights immediately on winning a medal for Ireland at the Paris Olympics. Picture: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Shane Lowry has taken his Open Championship disappointment on the chin and reset his sights immediately on winning a medal for Ireland at the Paris Olympics.

The 2019 Open champion led here at the halfway stage but finished sixth after a disastrous third-round 77 left him facing an uphill battle on the Sunday.

A fine closing round of four-under par 67 ultimately proved only enough to leave him on four-under for the week and five behind the winner Xander Schauffele who closed out with a flawless 65.

“It was pretty hard,” said Lowry of the hours after that third round. “It was a tough evening yesterday evening. I sat around the club here for a while, went home pretty late, had some dinner, had some good chats with the people that are in my house.

“I just wanted to go out and give myself a chance today. We had a great chat last night. I promised Neil[Manchip, his coach] I'd do one thing and go out and fight for every shot, and that's what I did today. Unfortunately, it's not good enough.

“It's very disappointing. There's no two ways about it. I had a great chance of winning this Open, and it's going to hurt for a few days. But onwards and upwards and onto the Olympics and try to win a medal for Ireland and get on from there then.” 

He was right in the hunt again after a run of four birdies in five holes at the end of his front nine but he needed more putts to drop at key moments and not enough did. Not to be, then, but he will be looking at the week positively rather than negatively.

“How could you not look back on it positively, a chance to win The Open? Obviously the critics and whatnot will say that I probably should have won from where I was yesterday afternoon, but it's not easy out there. It's not easy to win tournaments like this.

“I did everything I could. Unfortunately, I came up short. Hopefully over the next five to ten years I give myself another few chances in tournaments like this and get one more. Like I said at the start of the week, all I want is one more.” 

That’s for another day, another year to be exact. Next on his schedule are those Olympics at Le Golf National outside Paris where, along with Rory McIlroy, he will be a fancy to push for a podium place over the four rounds.

“Yeah, I'm playing good golf, and I'd love to win a medal for Ireland. Obviously I'd want it to be gold, but I'd probably take either three. So, yeah, I'm very excited about it. I'm looking forward to the week. Paris National is going to be a great test and a great course.

“That medal isn't going to be around your neck until you're finished on that 18th green, that's for sure, at that place. Now I have a nice week off. Go on holiday with the family, play a little bit of golf there, and get ready for the Olympics.”