TROON, Scotland — In the biggest victory of his career to date, Shane Lowry stretched a four-shot 54-hole lead into a six-shot victory at Royal Portrush and the 2019 British Open. The question then was understandable as the 37-year-old sat in front of the media Friday at Royal Troon, a second-round 69 putting him, at the moment, two shots ahead of the field the 2024 Open.
Are you a good frontrunner?
The response, delivered in a drool Irish accent, was vintage Lowry.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a good runner.”
Indeed, self-deprecation has long been Lowry’s calling card, but in recent years self-awareness is also something he’s become familiar with. Building off an opening-round 66 that left him one back of overnight leader Daniel Brown, Lowry made the turn Friday in two under and claimed the top spot on the leaderboard. But then there was trouble on the par-4 11th, a wayward second shot after being distracted by a cameraman, followed by a well-intended fan finding a ball Lowry was hoping he’d lost and a 20-minute rules discussion that felt more like 40.
Eventually, Lowry salvaged a double-bogey 6. What he did from there illustrated how he’s matured as a player.
“To be honest, I was happy enough leaving there with a 6. It was not like … it wasn’t a disaster. I was still leading the tournament.”
More from Golf Digest 
Instruction British Open 2024: Shane Lowry’s Royal Troon rules saga, simplified 
Signs British Open 2024: The eerie number working in Shane Lowry’s favor this week 
Tiger Watch British Open 2024: Tiger Woods struggles again at a major with his season set to come to early end
After a quick chat with his caddie to gather himself, Lowry put it behind him, stripping his drive on the difficult par-4 12th hole and knocking his approach to 30 feet. “I think the 12th hole for me was key. I hit driver, 4-iron there too, the best shots I’ve hit all week. … From then on, I felt like down out of the left coming in, it was playing quite difficult, but I felt like you could give yourself chances on the way in, and that’s what I did.”
Birdies on the 16th and 18th holes got Lowry back to seven under and the clubhouse lead.
Mind you, Lowry’s initial reaction on the 11th contained a bit of rage. Then again, Lowry isn’t one to hid his emotions course. The difference now from compared to his younger days is, Lowry continues to learn how to control those emotions rather than let them get the best of him.
“I don’t know, like I can get a bit down on myself and a bit hot headed at times, but I really feel like that’s why I’ve had the career I’ve had,” Lowry said. “I’ve spoken to people, my coach and my team about this at times, and if I go out there and try to be somebody I’m not, you’re just not going to be successful. That’s how I feel.
“Yeah, like I say it all the time, if I go out there and be myself, I feel like I can do very well. So allow myself to do that, and yes, without getting in your own way. It can help you at times.”
Shane Lowry interacts with caddie Darren Reynolds on the 18th green following his second round at Royal Troon.
Stuart Kerr/R&A
What will help Lowry the rest of this week is having been in contention at the Open before. He knows he’ll be off late on Saturday, his tee time likely to be well past 3 p.m. He’ll know how to manage the time and be prepared as best he can. Whether that’s enough or not remains to be seen.
One thing Lowry won’t be doing as he waits to get back out on the course: Go for a run.
• • •
Is it the British Open or the Open Championship? The name of the final men’s major of the golf season is a subject of continued discussion. The event’s official name, as explained in this op-ed by former R&A chairman Ian Pattinson, is the Open Championship. But since many United States golf fans continue to refer to it as the British Open, and search news around the event accordingly, Golf Digest continues to utilize both names in its coverage.
• • •
MORE GOLF DIGEST BRITISH OPEN COVERAGE
British Open 101: Answering all your frequently asked questions
How to watch the British Open on TV and streaming
Power Rankings: Every player in the field at Royal Troon
Video: Every hole at Royal Troon
How hard can the 123-yard Postage Stamp hole really be? Our deep-dive explantion
Tiger Woods and when enough is enough
History of the claret jug: 152 years of triumphs, dents and lots of drinking
How Brian Harman (aka ‘The butcher of Hoylake’) beat the British tabloids
Rory McIlroy’s media blowoff reignites debate about obligation in the face of frustration
Links golf interactive: What shots you should play on a links course
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
