The Open 2019: Shane Lowry receives thunderous applause on 1st tee Sunday at Portrush

The final round of the 2019 Open Championship is underway at Royal Portrush, and there is no doubt who the favorite is among the Irish fans in attendance: Shane Lowry. Look no further than the incredible welcome Lowry received on the opening tee on Sunday.

Lowry built a four-shot lead on Saturday, so fans from Ireland and Northern Ireland had all night to get excited for his final walk toward potential Open glory.

Lowry was set to tee off in the final group alongside Tommy Fleetwood at 1:47 p.m. local time (8:47 a.m. ET). Before they hit their shots, the starter announced to the thoroughly Irish crowd, “From the Republic of Ireland: SHANE LOWRY!”

At that moment, the entire crowd ringing the tee erupted in thunderous applause for the Open leader who grew up 130 miles away. A huge smile broke across Lowry’s face as he was showered with praise. Check it out below.

Once the noise died down, Lowry hooked his tee shot left, perhaps showing the incredible pressure he’s under to win this Open on the Emerald Isle. The entire crowd held their collective breath as his ball bounded toward the out of bounds markers. But ultimately it came up short in thick rough, which was good enough to elicit another huge applause from Lowry’s fans.

He went on to bogey the hole, shrinking his lead to three shots. If Lowry can hold on to win this afternoon, you can expect more deafening ovations from the thousands gathered at Portrush.

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