Lowry 'hurting' after Open challenge fades

Shane Lowry was unable to undo the damage of his closing 10 holes on Saturday as he eventually finished five behind winner Xander Schauffele

Shane Lowry said his sixth-place finish at The Open was "very disappointing" as he lamented the unravelling of his third round in which he lost a three-shot lead to sit four off the pace following his six-over-par 77.

The 2019 champion regrouped with a closing 68 on Sunday but it didn't prove enough as he finished five behind US star Xander Schauffele, who fired a superb 65 to clinch his second major of 2024.

After "feeling very down" following his round on Saturday, Lowry said he had promised coach Neil Manchip he would "fight for every shot" on Sunday.

"That’s what I did today. Unfortunately, it wasn't good enough and it's very disappointing," said the Offaly golfer.

"There's no two ways about it. I'd a great chance of winning this Open and it's going to hurt for a few days."

Lowry will now take a week's holiday before beginning preparations for his Olympic challenge in Paris next month.

The Irishman admitted that he expects criticism for his third-round performance when his troubles began with a double bogey five at the famous Postage Stamp eighth hole.

With conditions deteriorating at Royal Troon, Lowry suffered five further bogeys on his second nine as he came home in 40 shots.

"Obviously the critics and what not will say I probably should have won from where I was yesterday afternoon but it’s not easy out there.

"I did everything I could. Unfortunately I came up short. Hopefully over the next five to 10 years, I'll 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 [major]."

Lowry added that he had been emboldened to "fight" in the closing round by coach Manchip's recollection of his US Open disappointment in 2016 - when he held a four-shot lead going into the final round. only to fire a closing 76, which left finish in a share of second place, three behind winner Dustin Johnson.

"After Oakmount… I felt like I didn’t fight hard enough and he said to me, 'you're still regretting that' and said to me, 'will you do me one thing and fight for every shot?' and that’s what I did."

'I thought I would go back to Portrush with Claret jug'

Lowry revealed that Padraig Harrington had also been among his group of friends and confidants who attempted to lift his spirits on Saturday evening.

After dropping a shot at the third on Sunday, four birdies in five holes moved Lowry to within a shot of the lead but he was unable to maintain that momentum as he carded a birdie and nine pars in his closing 10 holes.

"I was one back after that [the four birdies] and I really felt I was doing all the right things.

"I holed a couple of long putts today but you need to hole everything on a day like today especially to beat somebody like Xander who's in the form he's in."

Lowry added that for most of the week, he was convinced that he would heading back next summer to the scene of 2019 triumph Royal Portrush as defending Open champion.

"Honestly all week with the way I was playing, I thought 'I'm going to be going back to Portrush with the Claret Jug'."

But it ultimately wasn't to be for the Irishman as he was unable to undo the damage of his closing 10 holes on Saturday.