Shane Lowry carded a final-round 63 on Sunday to complete a historic performance at his national open with an 11-shot win at the Irish Open at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel.
Lowry broke the record for the event’s largest margin of victory, which had been held by Bernhard Langer with his 10-shot win at Portmarnock Golf Club in 1987.
Lowry, 39, finished the tournament at 23-under par to cruise to his second Irish Open title. His closest competitors were Patrick Reed and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann, who tied for second at 12 under.
“Honestly I’m speechless, it’s hard to talk, I just can’t believe I’ve just done that and done it the way I’ve done it as well,” Lowry said. “To come here this week and do this, I don’t do things by half measures. I can’t believe I’m standing here with that leaderboard.
“A lot of things went right for me, but this has been the most spectacular week. Just everything about it, it’s just mad. I can’t believe it.”
After opening with a 67 on Thursday, Lowry went 62-65-63 for a combined 20 under par over the final three rounds. He followed up his course-record 62 in the second round by equaling the low round of the day on Sunday. Lowry also won the event in 2009 as an amateur.
Sunday’s victory was especially sweet for Lowry, who said he “threw it away” after suffering a pair of late double bogeys to finish second at the Cognizant Classic in March. He missed his next two cuts at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship and did not finish better than a tie for 28th in any of the year’s four majors.
Lowry switched caddies in June, but failed to make it past the first leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs. This week was his first start since a T52 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, with Lowry falling to No. 53 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
“This year has been quite difficult on the course for me, I had a few chances to win and had some really tough times,” he said. “When things aren’t going well at this level, it’s hard at home as well and my wife and kids have been a huge support and I love them so much. I’m so happy, this is for them.
“I can’t wait to bring a trophy home, my daughter keeps asking ‘when will you bring a trophy home?’ So yes, I can bring one home.”
Lowry earned $1.02 million for his first victory of 2026 while also rocketing 73 spots to No. 17 in the Race to Dubai standings. Reed is projected to keep the lead.
Rory McIlroy is projected to remain second in the season-long standings despite finishing in a tie for 41st. The Northern Irishman did post his lowest score of the week with a 67 on Sunday, rebounding from a 4-over 74 in the third round. However, the world’s No. 2-ranked player was never a factor this week in his title defense.
“I think overall, I’ve seen enough good stuff this week to give me encouragement going into next week, a golf course that I know well and a golf course that I’ve had success on,” McIlroy said, looking ahead to next week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in England.
“Obviously it wasn’t the week that I wanted but at the same time, I don’t feel too far away, and I feel good about going into Wentworth next week.”
–Field Level Media
