Shane Lowry wins British Open in celebrated return to Emerald Isle; Utah's Tony Finau finishes third
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Ireland's Shane Lowry reacts to the crowd on the 18th green during the third round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Saturday, July 20, 2019.(AP Photo/Jon Super) Jon Super
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — The long-awaited return of the British Open to Northern Ireland ended with Shane Lowry keeping the silver claret jug on the Emerald Isle.
Even as the rain stopped, the tears began flowing.
Lowry, the 32-year-old Irishman with stout nerves and a soft touch around the greens, endured the worst weather of the week and the Sunday pressure of a sellout crowd cheering him along to win the British Open by six shots.
He closed with a 1-over 72, the first time since 1996 that winner was over par in the final round, and it was no less impressive. More difficult than the rain was wind strong enough to break an umbrella. Lowry began making bogeys on the back nine of Royal Portrush without losing ground.
Ultimately, the outcome was never in doubt. No one got closer than three shots all day.
Salt Lake City native and Lehi resident Tony Finau shot even-par for his final round to move up to third place, one shot above Brooks Koepka. It was Finau's best ever major finish.
Tony Finau of the United States plays out of the rough on the 17th hole during the final round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Jon Super) | Jon Super
And thousands who filled these links off the North Atlantic could sense it when Lowry, after his fourth bogey in seven holes, rolled in an 8-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole to stretch his lead to six shots over Tommy Fleetwood.
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When his approach to the 18th was just on the fringe, he smiled broadly and stretched out his arms, hugging caddie Bo Martin. The loudest cheer of a noisy week was for a tap-in par that made Lowry a major champion.
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England's Tommy Fleetwood plays from the rough on the 7th hole during the final round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Peter Morrison) | Peter Morrison
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England's Tommy Fleetwood reacts to his shot from the 2nd tee during the third round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Saturday, July 20, 2019.(AP Photo/Jon Super) | Jon Super
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Ireland's Shane Lowry reacts after making a birdie on the 15th green during the final round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Peter Morrison) | Peter Morrison
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Ireland's Shane Lowry plays his tee shot at the 5th hole during the final round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Peter Morrison) | Peter Morrison
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Ireland's Shane Lowry reacts after making a birdie on the 15th green during the final round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Peter Morrison) | Peter Morrison
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Brooks Koepka of the United States walks onto the 10th green as he shelters from the heavy rain under an umbrella during the final round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Jon Super) | Jon Super
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Ireland's Shane Lowry hold up the Claret Jug trophy as he poses for the media and the crowd after winning the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Jon Super) | Jon Super
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J.B. Holmes of the United States plays out of the rough on 17th hole during the final round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Jon Super) | Jon Super
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Spectators clamber on to and on top of a scoreboard as they vie to get a glimpse of Ireland's Shane Lowry and England's Tommy Fleetwood as they play during the final round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Peter Morrison) | Peter Morrison
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Ireland's Shane Lowry smiles as he holds the Claret Jug trophy aloft after being presented with it for winning the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Jon Super) | Jon Super
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Ireland's Shane Lowry reacts to the crowd on the 18th green during the third round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Saturday, July 20, 2019.(AP Photo/Jon Super) | Jon Super
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Ireland's Shane Lowry lifts his club to celebrate as he wins the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Peter Morrison) | Peter Morrison
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Ireland's Shane Lowry tees off the 14th hole during the final round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Peter Morrison) | Peter Morrison
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Ireland's Shane Lowry looks down at the Claret Jug trophy on the18th geen after winning the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Peter Morrison) | Peter Morrison
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Ireland's Shane Lowry walks arms outstretched on the 18th green on his way to winning the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Matt Dunham) | Matt Dunham
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Ireland's Shane Lowry lifts his club to celebrate as he wins the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Peter Morrison) | Peter Morrison
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Ireland's Shane Lowry holds and kisses the Claret Jug trophy after winning the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Matt Dunham) | Matt Dunham
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Ireland's Shane Lowry is mobbed by spectators as he walks to the 17th hole during the final round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Peter Morrison) | Peter Morrison
Fleetwood had to settle for his second runner-up finish in a major. He closed with a 74. Conditions were so rugged that no one from the last 12 groups that teed off in the final round broke par.
Koepka, who started seven shots behind, began with four straight bogeys and shot 74 to tie for fourth.
Royal Portrush had to wait 68 years for another shot at hosting golf's oldest championship. Lowry made it worth the wait. So strong is support of the Irish golf community that Padraig Harrington of Ireland and Graeme McDowell waited for Lowry when he finished.
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