Shane Lowry delivered a dominant performance at the Amgen Irish Open, securing a historic 11‑stroke margin of victory and posting a remarkable seven‑under‑par 63 in the final round to finish the tournament at 23 under par. This triumph marks Lowry's seventh professional win and his second Irish Open title, the first coming in 2009 when he captured the trophy as a 22‑year‑old amateur. The 2024 edition was highlighted by the presence of U.S.
President Donald Trump, who personally handed Lowry the championship cup on the 18th green. Lowry's win arrives as a much‑needed resurgence after a string of near‑misses earlier in the season. He suffered a costly double‑bogey on the final hole of the Dubai Invitational, which dropped him to a second‑place finish by two strokes, and later saw a three‑stroke lead evaporate at the Cognizant Classic after two consecutive double‑bogeys on the closing holes.
Those setbacks made his commanding display at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg all the more satisfying. Entering the Sunday round, Lowry held a four‑stroke lead and quickly extended it with an immaculate performance. He recorded eight birdies and only a single bogey – a wayward shot on the ninth hole – while dazzling the crowd with two spectacular 45‑foot putts on the par‑three seventh and the par‑four 15th. A final‑hole birdie sealed the win, prompting an eruption of applause from the assembled spectators.
President Trump, who was on site for the second day in a row, addressed the crowd with a brief comment about removing tariffs on Irish whiskey, claiming he had discussed the matter with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who was also present for the ceremony alongside Minister of State Charlie McConalogue. The audience responded with chants of "USA" as Trump made his remarks. An emotional Lowry reflected on his season, saying, "This year has been quite difficult on the course for me.
I've had a few chances to win, and there have been some really tough times. 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. This has been the most spectacular week.
It has been unreal. When things are not going well at this level, it's hard at home as well, but my wife's been a huge support, and my kids.
I just love them so much and I'm so happy for them. I can't wait to bring a trophy home.
My daughter always asks me when I'm going to bring a trophy home. So, yes, I'm going to bring one home." Lowry's advantage on Sunday was largely built on his second‑round 62, which broke the course record and gave him a sizable cushion heading into the final day. His nearest rival, Jacob Skov Olesen, who was four shots back at 12 under after the third round, faltered with a three‑over 73 on Sunday, slipping down the leaderboard.
Patrick Reed posted a solid closing 64, while Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard‑Petersen recorded a 63, earning them second and third place respectively. Joaquin Niemann shared second place with Reed at 12 under, and Neergaard‑Petersen finished just one stroke behind.
England's Alex Fitzpatrick tied for seventh at nine under, and veteran Sergio García's final‑round 64 left him six under, matching the scores of Scotland's Robert MacIntyre and England's Matt Wallace, among others. Jon Rahm rounded out the field with a four‑under finish, while defending champion Rory McIlroy managed a solitary under‑par round of 67, ending his title defense one stroke behind the leaders. McIlroy expressed optimism about the upcoming BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, noting that the week had provided encouraging signs despite not achieving the result he desired. "I've seen enough good stuff this week to give me encouragement going into next week," he said.
"It's a golf course that I know well and one I've had success on. Obviously this wasn't the week that I wanted but, at the same time, I don't feel too far away and I feel good going into Wentworth.
I thought I hit the ball pretty well for the most part. A couple of bad decisions off the tees yesterday but, overall, my iron play was a lot better, my wedge play was pretty good for the most part and obviously it was a struggle on the greens. That was the difficult thing and why I wasn't able to get myself into contention.
I need a little bit of time on the putting green the next couple days and to get familiar with the greens at Wentworth again." The DP World Tour now turns its attention to Wentworth in Surrey for the BMW PGA Championship, the tour's flagship event. Fans can catch live coverage of all four rounds, with featured groups broadcasting from 7:30 a.m. on Thursday. For those without a Sky subscription, alternative streaming options are available, and golfers can book tee times at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland through the tour's partner platforms.
Lowry's victory not only adds a prestigious title to his résumé but also serves as a testament to resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. After enduring the disappointment of missed opportunities earlier in the season, he capitalized on his form, broke the course record, and delivered a performance that will be remembered in Irish Open history for years to come.