Golf fans usually expect a certain level of polite applause and quiet appreciation at a Major, but the 2019 British Open golf at Royal Portrush was basically a four-day festival that happened to have some world-class chipping. It was loud. It was wet. It was historic.
Honestly, if you weren't there or glued to the TV, it’s hard to describe the tension in the Northern Irish air that week. This wasn't just another Claret Jug chase. It was the first time the Open Championship had returned to Northern Ireland since 1951. Sixty-eight years. That’s a massive gap. Everyone expected Rory McIlroy to be the protagonist, the local hero returning to the site where he shot a course-record 61 as a sixteen-year-old.
Instead, we got Shane Lowry.
The Portrush Atmosphere and the Rory Heartbreak
Royal Portrush is a beast. The Dunluce Links is arguably one of the most beautiful yet punishing stretches of land in the world. Going into the 2019 British Open golf, the narrative was entirely focused on Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. They were the home favorites. But golf is a cruel game.
Rory’s opening tee shot was a disaster. Out of bounds. He took an eight on the first hole. Just like that, the dream of a local winner seemed to vanish before most people had finished their morning coffee. He fought back with a 65 on Friday, but it wasn't enough to make the cut. You could feel the air go out of the crowd.
But then there was Shane Lowry. While he’s from the Republic of Ireland, not Northern Ireland, the fans at Portrush adopted him instantly. There’s something about Lowry—the beard, the frame, the "regular guy" energy—that makes him incredibly easy to root for. He didn't just lead; he dominated.
Breaking Down that Saturday 63
Saturday at a Major is often called "Moving Day." Lowry didn't just move; he sprinted. He shot a 63. In those conditions, with the pressure of a nation on his shoulders, it was one of the most clinical displays of links golf ever recorded.
He didn't do it with raw power. He did it with touch. His short game around the greens at Portrush was like watching a surgeon work with a blunt instrument but getting perfect results anyway. He entered Sunday with a four-shot lead over Tommy Fleetwood.
Four shots sounds like a lot. In golf, it's a heartbeat.
The Rain, The Wind, and the Sunday Grind
Sunday at the 2019 British Open golf was miserable. The weather turned into a stereotypical North Atlantic mess. Wind gusts were howling, and the rain was that horizontal kind that soaks you to the bone no matter how expensive your Gore-Tex jacket is.
Lowry started shaky. He bogeyed the first. Fleetwood, the stylish Englishman with the flowing hair, was right there. People started whispering about collapses. We've seen it before at the Open—Jean van de Velde at Carnoustie or Adam Scott at Lytham. Golf is littered with the ghosts of four-shot leads.
But Lowry has this grit.
He’s not a "perfect" golfer in the modern, robotic sense. He grinds. Every time Fleetwood seemed ready to pounce, Lowry would sink a ten-footer for par or hit a gutsy iron shot into the heart of a green. By the time he reached the 15th, the lead had actually grown. The fans were singing. "Fields of Athenry" was echoing across the dunes.
It wasn't a golf tournament anymore. It was a parade.
Why This Win Mattered for Ireland
To understand the 2019 British Open golf, you have to understand the geography and the history. Golf in Ireland is a unifying force. Having the Open back at Portrush was a symbol of how far the region had come. When Lowry walked up the 18th hole, the scenes were chaotic. Security couldn't keep the fans back.
He finished at 15-under par. Fleetwood was six shots back in second. Six shots! That’s a margin of victory you just don't see often in the modern era against a field that deep. Brooks Koepka, who was in the middle of a historic run of Major performances, finished tied for fourth, never really threatening the lead on Sunday.
The Technical Mastery of Links Golf
Most people think golf is about hitting it far. At Portrush, it’s about "flighting" the ball. Lowry is a master of this. He grew up playing in the wind at Esker Hills.
If you look at the stats from that week, Lowry’s "Strokes Gained: Around the Green" were off the charts. Links turf is tight. It’s bouncy. If you hit a fraction behind the ball, you’re dead. Lowry’s ability to use the bounce of his wedges allowed him to escape positions that would have cost other players double-bogeys.
- Key Stat: Lowry only had one three-putt the entire week.
- The Crowd: Over 237,000 fans attended, a record for an Open held outside of St Andrews.
- The Course: Portrush was modified for the event, adding two new holes (the 7th and 8th) using land from the adjacent Valley Course.
J.B. Holmes, who shared the lead earlier in the week, fell apart on Sunday with an 87. That’s how hard the course was playing. The fact that Lowry shot a 72 in those final-round conditions is actually more impressive than his 63 on Saturday.
What Most People Get Wrong About 2019
There’s a misconception that Lowry "cruised" to victory because of the margin. He didn't. He was terrified. He later admitted in interviews that he could barely eat or sleep on Saturday night. He felt the weight of being the "Irish winner" that everyone wanted.
Also, people forget how well Tommy Fleetwood played for 54 holes. Fleetwood is one of the best ball-strikers in the world, but the 2019 British Open golf was won on the greens. Lowry made the putts; Fleetwood didn't. It’s the oldest story in the sport, but it was amplified by the roaring Irish crowd.
Another detail often lost to time: Tiger Woods. He missed the cut. After his miraculous win at the Masters earlier that year, everyone thought Tiger might contend. The cold, damp air of Northern Ireland didn't suit his fused back. It was a reminder that even the greatest ever is human.
The Legacy of Royal Portrush
The success of the 2019 event was so massive that the R&A (the governing body) immediately started looking for ways to bring it back sooner rather than later. It proved that the infrastructure in Northern Ireland could handle a global sporting event of this scale.
Lowry’s win also solidified his place as a big-game player. He wasn't a "one-hit wonder" who caught a lucky week. He’s a guy who thrives when the conditions are at their worst and the stakes are at their highest.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Links Round
Watching the 2019 British Open golf provides a masterclass for any amateur golfer who wants to improve their game on a windy day. You don't need a 120-mph swing to score well when the weather turns.
Lower Your Expectations and Your Ball Flight
Stop trying to hit the ball high. Lowry played "knockdown" shots all week. Choke down on the club, put the ball back in your stance, and swing at 75%. The harder you hit into the wind, the more the ball spins and rises.
Master the "Texas Wedge"
Lowry used his putter from well off the green. In the 2019 British Open golf, we saw professionals putting from 30 yards away. Why? Because a bad putt is always better than a thinned chip. If the ground is firm, leave the lob wedge in the bag.
Mental Resilience is a Skill
Lowry’s bogey on the first hole Sunday could have signaled a collapse. He took a breath, realized he still had a lead, and moved on. Most amateurs let a bad start ruin the next five holes. Focus on the next shot, not the last scorecard entry.
Study the Course Map
Portrush is about angles. Lowry rarely took the "hero" line over bunkers. He played to the fat parts of the fairways. If you're playing a tough course, identify where the "miss" is safe. Avoid the "out of bounds" areas that killed Rory’s chances in the first ten minutes of the tournament.
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The 2019 British Open golf wasn't just a tournament; it was a cultural moment. It was the day Shane Lowry became a sporting immortal in Ireland and Royal Portrush reclaimed its spot as one of the cathedrals of world golf. If you ever get the chance to play there, take it. Just remember to bring a rain suit and a very good short game.