2019 Open Championship
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2019 Open Championship

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2019 Open Championship
Tournament information
Dates18–21 July 2019
LocationPortrush, County Antrim,
Northern Ireland
55°12′00″N 6°38′06″W / 55.200°N 6.635°W / 55.200; -6.635
Course(s)Royal Portrush Golf Club
Dunluce Links
Organized byThe R&A
Tours
Statistics
Par71
Length7,344 yards (6,715 m)
Field156 players, 73 after cut
Cut143 (+1)
Prize fund$10,750,000[1]
€9,546,221
Winner's share$1,935,000
€1,718,320
Champion
Republic of Ireland Shane Lowry
269 (−15)
Location map
Royal Portrush is located in the United Kingdom
Royal Portrush
Royal Portrush
Location in the United Kingdom
Royal Portrush is located in island of Ireland
Royal Portrush
Royal Portrush
Location in Ireland
Royal Portrush is located in Northern Ireland
Royal Portrush
Royal Portrush
Location in Northern Ireland
← 2018
2021 →

The 2019 Open Championship was the 148th Open Championship, played 18–21 July at Royal Portrush Golf Club in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It was the second Open Championship at Portrush, which last hosted in 1951, won by Max Faulkner. Royal Portrush saw major alterations in preparation for the tournament, including replacing two of the holes.

Shane Lowry won his first major title by six strokes over Tommy Fleetwood. Ranked 33rd coming into the tournament, Lowry's previous biggest wins were the 2015 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the 2019 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Lowry became the second player from the Republic of Ireland to win a major after Pádraig Harrington.[2]

Lowry shot 67 in both the first and second rounds to share the lead with J. B. Holmes after 36 holes. He shot a course record (since the 2016 renovation) 63 in the third round to have a four-stroke lead over Tommy Fleetwood going into the final day. After shooting a 72 in challenging conditions on the last day, Lowry was able to convert a four-shot 54-hole lead into major victory, after failing to do the same at the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont. Fleetwood finished solo second for the second time in a major, having previously achieved the feat at the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.[2]

Major champions Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell, and Rory McIlroy competed in a major in their native Northern Ireland for the first time. Clarke was given the honour of the opening tee shot and described the event as a watershed moment for Northern Ireland, as hosting was seen as unrealistic during the years when violence ravaged the province.[3] McIlroy was the pre-tournament favourite but shot an 8-over-par 79 in the first round, which included a quadruple bogey eight on the first hole, a double bogey five on the 16th, and a triple bogey seven on the 18th. Despite shooting a 6-under-par 65 in the second round for a two-over-par total, he missed the cut by a single stroke.[4] Clarke also missed the cut, and McDowell finished tied-57th.[2]

Defending champion Francesco Molinari made the cut on the number and finished tied for 11th with a 3-under-par 281. Brooks Koepka finished tied 4th to become the fifth player, after Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods, to finish top-five in all four majors in a single season.[2]

The 36-hole cut was 143 (+1) and better; 73 advanced to the weekend, but no amateurs, so the Silver Medal was not awarded.[2]

Media

[edit]

The 2019 Open Championship was televised by the Comcast Group in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland (both on Sky Sports), and the United States (Golf Channel on its cable service on Thursday and Friday, while on NBC its broadcast service on weekends). It was the fourth year of both channels airing the tournament, but the first since Comcast acquired Sky in late 2018, vertically integrating the two. At the 2019 Players Championship, Comcast integrated the two channels' coverage for the first time since the acquisition, and is expected to feature coverage from both networks' commentators.[citation needed]

Venue

[edit]
Main article: Royal Portrush Golf Club

Changes to the course for the Open

[edit]
The new 7th hole at Royal Portrush

Specialists Mackenzie & Ebert oversaw changes to the course in preparation for the 2019 Open. The work began in 2015 and it was the first major changes to the Harry Colt designed links since the 1930s. Changes included:[5]

  • Removing the 17th and 18th holes. Holes 7 to 16 became holes 9 to 18.
  • Two new holes (the current 7th and 8th), which were created with land taken from the Valley course.
  • Reshaping some of the greens.
  • Nine holes had new tees, there were several new bunkers, and the course was lengthened by 201 yards.

Card of the course

[edit]

Dunluce Links – Championship tees

Hole Name Yards Par Hole Name Yards Par
1 Hughie's 421 4 10 Himalayas 447 4
2 Giant's Grave 574 5 11 P.G. Stevenson's 474 4
3 Islay 177 3 12 Dhu Varren 532 5
4 Fred Daly's 482 4 13 Feather Bed 194 3
5 White Rocks 374 4 14 Causeway 473 4
6 Harry Colt's 194 3 15 Skerries 426 4
7 Curran Point 592 5 16 Calamity Corner 236 3
8 Dunluce 434 4 17 Purgatory 408 4
9 Tavern 432 4 18 Babington's 474 4
Out 3,680 36 In 3,664 35
Source:[6] Total 7,344 71

If required a three-hole aggregate playoff, followed by sudden death, would have used the 1st, 13th, and 18th holes.[7]

Length of the course for the previous Open:[8][9]

  • 1951: 6,802 yards (6,220 m), par 72

Field

[edit]

The Open Championship field was made up of 156 players, who gained entry through various exemption criteria and qualifying tournaments. The criteria included past Open champions, recent major winners, top ranked players in the world rankings and from the leading world tours, and winners and high finishers from various designated tournaments, including the Open Qualifying Series; the winners of designated amateur events, including The Amateur Championship and U.S. Amateur, also gained exemption provided they remain an amateur. Anyone not qualifying via exemption, and had a handicap of 0.4 or lower, could gain entry through regional and final qualifying events.[10]

Criteria and exemptions

[edit]

Each player is classified according to the first category in which he qualified, but other categories are shown in parentheses.[a][11]

1. The Open Champions aged 60 or under on 21 July 2019

2. The Open Champions for 2009–2018

3. Top 10 finishers and ties in the 2018 Open Championship

4. Top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for Week 21, 2019

5. Top 30 on the 2018 Race to Dubai

6. Last three BMW PGA Championship winners

7. Top 5 players, not already exempt, within the top 20 of the 2019 Race to Dubai through the BMW International Open

8. Last five U.S. Open winners

9. Last five Masters Tournament winners

10. Last six PGA Championship winners

11. Last three Players Championship winners

12. The 30 qualifiers for the 2018 Tour Championship

13. Top 5 players, not already exempt, within the top 20 of the 2019 FedEx Cup points list through the Travelers Championship

14. Winner of the 2018 Open de Argentina

15. Playing members of the 2018 Ryder Cup teams

16. Winner of the 2018 Asian Tour Order of Merit

17. Winner of the 2018 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit

18. Winner of the 2018–19 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit

19. Winner of the 2018 Japan Open

20. Winner of the 2019 Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup Golf

21. Top 2 on the 2018 Japan Golf Tour Official Money List

22. Top player, not already exempt, on the 2019 Japan Golf Tour Official Money List through the Japan Golf Tour Championship

23. Winner of the 2018 Senior Open Championship

24. Winner of the 2019 Amateur Championship

25. Winner of the 2018 U.S. Amateur

26. Winners of the 2019 European Amateur

27. Recipient of the 2018 Mark H. McCormack Medal

28. Winner of the 2018 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship

Open Qualifying Series

[edit]

The Open Qualifying Series (OQS) consisted of twelve events from the six major tours and the Korean Tour.[18] Places were available to the leading players (not otherwise exempt) who finished in the top n and ties. In the event of ties, positions went to players ranked highest according to that week's OWGR.

Location Tournament Date Spots Top Qualifiers
Australia Emirates Australian Open 18 Nov 3 10 Abraham Ancer, Jake McLeod (17), Dimitrios Papadatos
Africa South African Open 9 Dec 3 10 Romain Langasque, Oliver Wilson
Singapore SMBC Singapore Open 20 Jan 4 12 Yoshinori Fujimoto, Jazz Janewattananond, Prom Meesawat, Mun Do-yeob
United States Arnold Palmer Invitational 10 Mar 3 10 Im Sung-jae, Kang Sung-hoon, Keith Mitchell
Japan Mizuno Open 2 Jun 4 12 Gunn Charoenkul, Yuta Ikeda, Chan Kim, Park Sang-hyun
Canada RBC Canadian Open 9 Jun 3 10 Adam Hadwin, Graeme McDowell
  • Only two eligible players finished in the top 10.
Korea Kolon Korea Open 23 Jun 2 8 Hwang Inn-choon, Jang Dong-kyu
Spain Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters 30 Jun 3 10 Adri Arnaus, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Mike Lorenzo-Vera
United States Rocket Mortgage Classic 30 Jun 2 8 Nate Lashley, Doc Redman
Ireland Dubai Duty Free Irish Open 7 Jul 3 10 Robert Rock, Paul Waring, Bernd Wiesberger
Scotland Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open 14 Jul 3 10 Nino Bertasio, Benjamin Hébert, Andrew Johnston
United States John Deere Classic 14 Jul 1 5 Dylan Frittelli

Final Qualifying

[edit]

The Final Qualifying events were played on 2 July at four courses covering Scotland and the North-West, Central and South-coast regions of England. Three qualifying places were available at each location, with 72 golfers competing at each.[19] Sam Locke and Ashton Turner were successful at Final Qualifying for the second consecutive year.[20] Brandon Wu was exempt[10] from regional qualifying because he was ranked in the top ten in the World Amateur Golf Ranking,[21] while Tom Thurloway was exempted by winning the 2018 English Amateur closed championship.[22] Other qualifiers were exempted from regional qualifying by virtue of a top 1000 Official World Golf Ranking at the date of entry.[10]

Location Qualifiers[a][b]
Fairmont St Andrews Sam Locke, Connor Syme, Brandon Wu (a)
Notts (Hollinwell) Tom Thurloway (a), Ashton Turner, Andrew Wilson (R)
Prince's Austin Connelly, Curtis Knipes (a) (R), Callum Shinkwin
St Annes Old Links Matthew Baldwin, Garrick Porteous, Jack Senior

Alternates

[edit]

To make up the full field of 156, additional places were allocated in ranking order from the Official World Golf Ranking at the time that these places were made available by the Championship Committee. The first 14 alternates were added using the week 25 rankings on 26 June;[23] two of those declined spots and were replaced by the next two alternates.

From the Week 25 (week ending 23 June) Official World Golf Ranking:
From the Week 27 (week ending 7 July) Official World Golf Ranking:

Weather

[edit]
  • Thursday: Mostly cloudy with intermittent showers. High of 64 °F (18 °C). Winds WSW 10–15 mph (16–24 km/h) with gusts of 20–25 mph (32–40 km/h).
  • Friday: Mostly cloudy with occasional rain showers. High of 66 °F (19 °C). Winds NNE 5–10 mph (8–16 km/h).
  • Saturday: Cloudy with periods of sunshine. High of 66 °F (19 °C). Winds WNW 7–10 mph (11–16 km/h) with gusts of 18–22 mph (29–35 km/h).
  • Sunday: Due to expected inclement weather, final round tee times ran from 7:32 a.m. to 1:47 p.m. Rainy with periods of heavy rain. High of 66 °F (19 °C). Winds SSW 17–20 mph (27–32 km/h) with gusts of 30–35 mph (48–56 km/h).[2]

Round summaries

[edit]

First round

[edit]

Thursday, 18 July 2019

Brooks Koepka, winner of four of the last ten majors, shot a three-under 68 and was two strokes off the lead, tied for third with twelve others. Tiger Woods hit his highest first round score in the Open, a seven-over 78. J. B. Holmes opened with 66 for a one-shot lead over early leader Shane Lowry.[24] It was the second time he'd led in a major championship, the other time being the second round of the 2008 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills. Rory McIlroy shot an 8-over-par 79 which included a quadruple bogey eight on the first hole, a double bogey five on the 16th and a triple bogey seven on the 18th.[25] Two weeks after his win at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, Jon Rahm finished two shots off the first-round lead.[2]

Place Player Score To par
1 United States J. B. Holmes 66 −5
2 Republic of Ireland Shane Lowry 67 −4
T3 Thailand Kiradech Aphibarnrat 68 −3
United States Tony Finau
England Tommy Fleetwood
New Zealand Ryan Fox
South Africa Dylan Frittelli
Spain Sergio García
England Tyrrell Hatton
United States Brooks Koepka
Scotland Robert MacIntyre
Sweden Alex Norén
Spain Jon Rahm
United States Webb Simpson
England Lee Westwood
Source:[26]

Second round

[edit]

Friday, 19 July 2019

After round two, Shane Lowry and J. B. Holmes shared the lead on eight under. Brooks Koepka sat at tied-8th, the 12th consecutive major he'd been in the top 20. Four players, Justin Harding (T5), Xander Schauffele (T18), Kevin Streelman (T48) and Rory McIlroy (MC), posted a second round 6-under-par 65, the current course record (since renovation). 73 professionals and no amateurs made the cut line of 143 (+1). McIlroy missed the cut by one stroke, for the first time since 2013.[27] Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson both missed the cut, the first time this had happened in 83 majors. Local resident Graeme McDowell, and defending champion, Francesco Molinari, made the cut on number.[2]

Place Player Score To par
T1 United States J. B. Holmes 66-68=134 −8
Republic of Ireland Shane Lowry 67-67=134
T3 England Tommy Fleetwood 68-67=135 −7
England Lee Westwood 68-67=135
T5 South Africa Justin Harding 71-65=136 −6
England Justin Rose 69-67=136
Australia Cameron Smith 70-66=136
T8 South Africa Dylan Frittelli 68-69=137 −5
United States Brooks Koepka 68-69=137
United States Andrew Putnam 70-67=137
United States Jordan Spieth 70-67=137

Amateurs: Kanaya (+2), Sugrue (+2), Schmid (+5), Wu (+7), Knipes (+9), Thurloway (+14)

Source:[26]

Third round

[edit]

Saturday, 20 July 2019

Shane Lowry shot an 8-under-par 63 to break the course record since it was remodeled in 2016. His 197 set a new 54-hole scoring record at the Open, beating the 198 set by Tom Lehman in 1996 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.[28] He became the 12th player since 2000 to be leading in a major by four or more strokes, with only three of them failing to go on and win, including Lowry himself at the 2016 U.S. Open. Lee Westwood sat tied-6th in his 82nd major start, which is the second highest number of major starts without a victory, with only Jay Haas (87) having more. The light afternoon winds favoured the later starters, and led to lower scores than in the first two days.[2]

Place Player Score To par
1 Republic of Ireland Shane Lowry 67-67-63=197 −16
2 England Tommy Fleetwood 68-67-66=201 −12
3 United States J. B. Holmes 66-68-69=203 −10
T4 United States Brooks Koepka 68-69-67=204 −9
England Justin Rose 69-67-68=204
T6 United States Rickie Fowler 70-69-66=205 −8
England Lee Westwood 68-67-70=205
T8 United States Tony Finau 68-70-68=206 −7
Spain Jon Rahm 68-70-68=206
United States Jordan Spieth 70-67-69=206
England Danny Willett 74-67-65=206
Source:[26]

Final round

[edit]

Sunday, 21 July 2019

Summary

[edit]

Sunday's tee times were moved forward due to the adverse weather forecast. The first tee time for the final round at Royal Portrush was at 7:32am BST, with the two leaders beginning their final round at 1:47pm.[29][30] Shane Lowry shot a 1-over-par 72, with only Tony Finau scoring lower (71) out of the players in the top 10 after round 3. It meant Lowry won with a six-shot margin ahead of Tommy Fleetwood, the highest winning margin in a major since Martin Kaymer in the 2014 U.S. Open. Lowry had a clear lead throughout the round, and was generally praised for his composure in testing weather conditions, with some remarking about the similarity to his 2009 Irish Open win when he still had amateur status.[2] J. B. Holmes started the day at 10-under-par in solo third place, he shot a 16-over 87 to finish tied for 67th at 6-over-par.

Final leaderboard

[edit]
Champion
(a) = amateur
(c) = past champion

Note: Top 10 and ties qualify for the 2020 Open Championship; top 4 and ties qualify for the 2020 Masters Tournament

Place Player Score To par Money ($)
1 Republic of Ireland Shane Lowry 67-67-63-72=269 −15 1,935,000
2 England Tommy Fleetwood 68-67-66-74=275 −9 1,120,000
3 United States Tony Finau 68-70-68-71=277 −7 718,000
T4 United States Brooks Koepka 68-69-67-74=278 −6 503,500
England Lee Westwood 68-67-70-73=278
T6 United States Rickie Fowler 70-69-66-74=279 −5 313,000
England Tyrrell Hatton 68-71-71-69=279
Scotland Robert MacIntyre 68-72-71-68=279
England Danny Willett 74-67-65-73=279
10 United States Patrick Reed 71-67-71-71=280 −4 223,000
Source:[26]

Scorecard

[edit]
Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Par 4 5 3 4 4 3 5 4 4 4 4 5 3 4 4 3 4 4
Republic of Ireland Lowry −15 −15 −15 −16 −17 −17 −18 −17 −16 −16 −15 −15 −15 −14 −15 −15 −15 −15
England Fleetwood −12 −12 −11 −11 −12 −12 −12 −11 −11 −10 −10 −11 −11 −9 −9 −9 −9 −9
United States Finau −7 −7 −7 −7 −7 −7 −8 −8 −8 −8 −7 −8 −7 −7 −7 −7 −7 −7
England Westwood −7 −8 −9 −9 −10 −10 −10 −10 −9 −10 −9 −8 −7 −7 −7 −6 −6 −6
United States Koepka −8 −7 −6 −5 −7 −7 −7 −7 −7 −7 −6 −6 −6 −6 −7 −7 −6 −6
Scotland MacIntyre −2 −3 −3 −3 −3 −3 −4 −4 −4 −5 −5 −5 −5 −4 −4 −4 −4 −5
England Hatton −3 −4 −4 −5 −5 −5 −4 −4 −4 −4 −4 −5 −5 −4 −4 −4 −5 −5
England Willett −7 −8 −8 −8 −8 −8 −9 −9 −8 −8 −7 −8 −7 −6 −5 −5 −5 −5
United States Fowler −6 −7 −8 −9 −9 −9 −9 −9 −9 −7 −7 −7 −6 −5 −6 −6 −5 −5
United States Reed −4 −4 −5 −5 −4 −4 −5 −5 −4 −4 −4 −5 −5 −5 −5 −5 −4 −4
United States Holmes −8 −8 −8 −7 −7 −6 −7 −6 −5 −5 −2 E E +1 +1 +2 +4 +6
Cumulative tournament scores, relative to par
Eagle Birdie Bogey Double bogey Triple bogey+

Aftermath

[edit]

Reaction from Lowry

[edit]

Lowry was interviewed by host broadcaster, Sky Sports, where he discussed his victory:[31]

"It's like an out-of-body experience! I was so calm coming down the last, I cannot believe it. The weather was awful but I had a look around, and everyone was struggling. It became a two-horse race with Tommy, and I just tried to focus on staying ahead."
"I suppose I talked to my caddie Bo a lot today, I said 'I cannot stop thinking about winning, holding the claret jug'. He just said, 'stay focused', and what a job he did today. I cannot wait to wake up tomorrow and feel what it feels like it is phenomenal."

Media and sporting reaction

[edit]

Lowry's victory was widely covered in Ireland, and was featured on the front page of newspapers in both the Republic and Northern Ireland.

As Lowry advanced towards victory, the crowds gathered at Croke Park for the 2019 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final double header received updates on the big screens in the stadium.[32]

Statistics

[edit]

Course

[edit]
Hardest three holes
Easiest three holes
Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Par 4 5 3 4 4 3 5 4 4 36 4 4 5 3 4 4 3 4 4 35 71
Yards 421 574 177 482 374 194 592 434 432 3,664 447 474 532 194 473 426 236 408 474 3,680 Total
Average score to par
1st round +0.21 −0.37 +0.02 +0.24 −0.10 +0.24 +0.12 +0.06 +0.22 +0.64 −0.03 +0.40 −0.22 −0.04 +0.16 +0.26 +0.24 +0.20 +0.37 +1.35 +1.99
2nd round +0.15 −0.12 +0.04 +0.24 −0.09 −0.12 −0.35 +0.12 +0.12 −0.09 +0.04 +0.19 −0.48 −0.03 +0.53 −0.05 +0.19 −0.03 +0.19 +0.47 +0.39
3rd round +0.08 −0.67 −0.10 +0.15 −0.04 +0.25 −0.07 −0.03 +0.00 −0.42 +0.00 +0.32 −0.48 +0.07 +0.33 +0.11 +0.25 −0.19 +0.10 +0.49 +0.07
4th round +0.34 −0.32 −0.01 +0.10 −0.30 +0.03 −0.26 +0.32 +0.36 +0.25 +0.03 +0.62 −0.12 +0.16 +0.38 +0.12 +0.37 +0.29 +0.14 +1.99 +2.23
Tournament +0.19 −0.32 −0.03 +0.20 −0.12 +0.09 −0.13 +0.11 +0.17 +0.10 −0.02 +0.35 −0.34 +0.01 +0.35 +0.11 +0.25 +0.07 +0.23 +1.08 +1.18

Source:[33]

Player

[edit]

The leading player in each category were:

Fairways hit
1st round Park Sang-hyun 92.86%
2nd round Adam Hadwin
Matt Kuchar
Xander Schauffele
Kevin Streelman		 92.86%
3rd round Paul Waring 92.86%
4th round Lee Westwood 92.86%
Tournament Brian Harman
Takumi Kanaya		 82.14%
Greens in regulation
1st round Shane Lowry 88.89%
2nd round Yuki Inamori
Xander Schauffele		 94.44%
3rd round Shane Lowry 94.44%
4th round Francesco Molinari 88.89%
Tournament Shane Lowry 79.17%
Average number of putts
1st round Ryan Palmer 1.33
2nd round Jack Senior 1.28
3rd round Danny Willett 1.39
4th round Matt Fitzpatrick
Jim Furyk
Patrick Reed		 1.39
Tournament Zach Johnson
Jack Senior		 1.44
Longest drives (yards)
1st round Callum Shinkwin 381
2nd round Luke List
Bubba Watson		 351
3rd round Alex Norén 335
4th round Louis Oosthuizen 343
Tournament Callum Shinkwin 381

Source:[34]

Driver conformity issues

[edit]

Before the start of the championship, The R&A made random inspections of players' clubs and found four drivers out of 30 tested did not comply with the characteristic time (CT) test requirements, including that of Xander Schauffele.[35] It was also reported that 15 drivers had failed similar testing in May 2019 at the Diamond Cup Golf event on the Japan Golf Tour.[36]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

2019 Open Championship

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from Grokipedia
The 2019 Open Championship, formally the 148th edition of golf's oldest major tournament, was contested from 18 to 21 July at the Dunluce Links course of Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, Northern Ireland.[1] Organized by The R&A, it marked the first hosting of the event outside Great Britain since 1951 and drew record crowds exceeding 237,000 spectators amid challenging coastal conditions including wind and rain.[1][2] Irish professional Shane Lowry claimed the Claret Jug, securing his sole major victory to date by finishing at 15-under-par 269, six strokes clear of England's Tommy Fleetwood in outright second place.[2][3] Lowry's dominance was highlighted by a third-round 63—the lowest score in Open Championship history at the time—which propelled him to a five-shot lead entering the final day, followed by a steady 72 despite adverse weather that forced play to conclude early on Monday.[2][1] The victory, Lowry's first on home soil, elevated him from 33rd in the world rankings and earned him over £1.4 million in prize money, underscoring a career breakthrough after prior successes like the 2015 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.[2] The tournament's return to Royal Portrush after 68 years revitalized the venue's legacy, originally established in 1888 and previously site of Max Faulkner's 1951 win, with extensive renovations to the Dunluce course—including new holes 1, 2, 16, 17, and 18—accommodating modern play standards and large-scale infrastructure upgrades for the Open's demands.[1][4] Notable performances included Tommy Fleetwood's runner-up finish at 9-under and Tony Finau's tie for third, while defending champion Francesco Molinari faltered with an 8-over final round, missing the cutline for contention.[3] The event's success, bolstered by Northern Ireland's enthusiastic reception, affirmed the rota's expansion beyond traditional British venues, setting precedents for future Opens at non-continental sites.[1][5]

Background and Historical Context

Return to Northern Ireland

The Open Championship returned to Northern Ireland in 2019 at Royal Portrush Golf Club, marking the first hosting in the region since 1951.[1] The 1951 edition at the same venue was the inaugural Open held outside England and Scotland, won by Max Faulkner.[6] This 68-year gap stemmed primarily from the political instability and sectarian violence of The Troubles, a conflict from the late 1960s to 1998 that deterred major international sporting events due to security risks.[5] [7] Post-1951, Northern Ireland faced additional challenges including economic downturns that affected golf infrastructure and visitor numbers at Royal Portrush, further delaying a return.[8] The 1998 Good Friday Agreement restored relative peace, enabling renewed consideration of hosting large-scale events.[9] By the early 2010s, the R&A evaluated potential Irish venues, focusing on Royal Portrush after assessing course capacity and logistical feasibility.[10] On 20 October 2015, the R&A formally announced Royal Portrush as the host for the 148th Open, scheduled for 18–21 July 2019.[11] This decision required significant venue upgrades, including lengthening the Dunluce Links by approximately 200 yards and adding bunkers to meet modern professional standards.[12] The return symbolized Northern Ireland's post-conflict stability and aimed to boost tourism and economic activity in the region.[9]

Tournament Significance

The 2019 Open Championship, the 148th edition of golf's oldest major tournament, marked a historic return to Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland, the first hosting outside mainland Great Britain since the event's inaugural appearance there in 1951. This 68-year hiatus reflected broader geopolitical challenges, including the Troubles, yet the tournament's revival demonstrated the venue's enduring suitability for the links-style test central to The Open's identity, with its natural dunes, pot bunkers, and exposure to coastal winds demanding precision and adaptability from the field.[8][5] Shane Lowry's six-shot victory further amplified the event's prominence, securing his sole major title to date and establishing a new 54-hole tournament scoring record at 13-under-par, capped by a third-round 63 that tied the course mark. As the first winner from the Republic of Ireland since Fred Daly in 1947, Lowry's triumph resonated nationally, evoking celebrations across Ireland and underscoring The Open's cultural weight beyond sport, with his emotional post-win reflections highlighting the personal stakes of contending for the Claret Jug.[1][13][14] Economically, the tournament injected over £100 million into Northern Ireland's economy through tourism, visitor spending, and infrastructure enhancements, according to an independent study, while drawing record crowds and global viewership that affirmed Royal Portrush's viability for future majors, leading to its scheduled return in 2025. This success validated the R&A's decision to expand The Open's rota northward, reinforcing the championship's role in preserving authentic links golf amid modern professional demands.[15][16]

Venue

Royal Portrush Course Details

The Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club, situated in Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, hosted the 2019 Open Championship on its 18-hole championship layout. Originally laid out in 1888 as a nine-hole course and expanded to 18 holes by Old Tom Morris, the modern Dunluce configuration was primarily designed by Harry Colt in 1932, utilizing the natural dunes and coastal terrain along the North Antrim cliffs.[4][17][18] For the championship, the course played to 7,344 yards with a par of 71, featuring a mix of par 4s, five par 3s, and four par 5s, demanding precision amid prevailing winds and undulating fairways.[19] The layout incorporates strategic bunkering, pot bunkers, and greens perched on elevated dunes, with several holes offering panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the distinctive Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge in the distance.[20][21] Notable holes include the par-5 7th, Curran Point, stretching 607 yards and requiring a tee shot over rough terrain toward the sea, followed by approaches navigating sheer drops and crosswinds. The par-3 14th, Calamity Corner, presents a narrow green guarded by deep bunkers and cliffs, often playing longer into the breeze. These elements combine to test driving accuracy, iron play, and short-game creativity, hallmarks of classic links golf.[20][21][22]

Modifications for the Championship

To host the 2019 Open Championship, the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush underwent extensive modifications directed by architects Mackenzie & Ebert in collaboration with the R&A. These alterations, completed between 2016 and 2018, focused on enhancing strategic depth, lengthening the course, and improving spectator facilities while respecting the original Harry Colt design from 1932.[23] The most prominent changes involved replacing the existing 7th and 8th holes with two new ones built on land from the adjacent Valley course. The new 7th, "Curran Point," is a 590-yard par-5 playing uphill along the cliffs, demanding a precise drive to avoid bunkers and rough before approaching a green guarded by dunes. The new 8th, "Dunluce," measures 434 yards as a par-4 with a slight dogleg, featuring a green complex inspired by Colt's style and protected by deep bunkers. The former 7th hole was renumbered as the 9th to accommodate this rerouting.[23][24] Further adjustments to the finishing stretch repurposed the original 17th and 18th holes for a spectator village and infrastructure, shifting the 18th to the former 16th hole, known as "Calamity Corner," a 240-yard par-3 over a ravine extended by a new back tee. This reconfiguration emphasized stronger closing holes and better viewing areas. The overall course length increased by 201 yards to 7,344 yards, played as par 71, through new championship tees on nine holes, including extensions on the 2nd (by 40 yards with a relocated green) and 16th (by 35 yards).[23][24][25] Additional enhancements included reshaping greens on the 2nd, 3rd, and former 8th (new 10th) for improved drainage and pin placements, reconstructing bunkers to original specifications where possible, and adding five new bunkers on the replacement holes. A notable restoration was the "Wee Nellie" bunker on the fairway of the former 7th (now 9th), echoing historical features. These modifications elevated the course's challenge for elite professionals while facilitating greater crowd circulation and access within the interior layout.[23][24]

Qualification and Field

Entry Criteria and Exemptions

Entry into the 148th Open Championship, held from 18 to 21 July 2019 at Royal Portrush Golf Club, was open to male professional golfers and male amateur golfers possessing a handicap index of 0.4 or lower, or ranked within the top 2,000 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) as of the entry closing date.[26] Eligible female golfers included the top five and ties from the 2018 and 2019 editions of the Women's British Open, Women's PGA Championship, and the U.S. Women's Open.[26] All entries required submission by 30 May 2019, along with a non-refundable fee of £150 (less a £20 administrative deduction if withdrawn prior to the deadline).[27] The total field comprised 156 players, with the majority filling via exemptions and the remainder through qualifying events.[27] Exemptions from all qualifying were granted under 28 categories to ensure participation by leading professionals and select amateurs, prioritizing recent major performers, world-ranked elites, and tournament winners across global tours.[27] These included: Non-exempt entrants competed in regional and final qualifying events to secure the remaining field spots.[26]

Qualifying Events and Alternates

Final qualifying for the 2019 Open Championship took place on July 2, 2019, over 36 holes of stroke play at four venues in Great Britain: Fairmont St Andrews in Fife, Scotland; Notts Golf Club's Hollinwell course in Nottinghamshire, England; Prince's Golf Club in Kent, England; and St Annes Old Links in Lancashire, England. Three spots were available at each site, yielding 12 qualifiers in total for the field at Royal Portrush.[28][29] These events followed regional qualifying, conducted from June 18 to 20, 2019, across 13 courses in the United Kingdom and Ireland, where approximately 1,000 entrants competed in 18-hole stroke-play rounds to advance the top performers—up to 16 per site—to the final stage.[30][31] The regional venues included sites such as Seapoint Golf Club in Ireland and Dundonald Links in Scotland, designed to identify promising players from broader entry pools before the more selective final qualifiers.[29] The Open Qualifying Series (OQS) offered an additional route through 10 specified international tournaments across tours including the PGA Tour, European Tour, and others, held from October 2018 to July 2019; the highest-placed non-exempt finisher at each event secured qualification, contributing several players to the field such as Abraham Ancer from the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Lucas Bjerregaard from the Omega European Masters.[32][33] Alternates were selected by The R&A from players finishing immediately outside the qualifying positions or based on recent form in OQS and other events, forming a reserve list to replace withdrawals and maintain the target field of 156; designated alternates as of late June 2019 included An Byeong-hun, J. B. Holmes, Emiliano Grillo, and Scott Hend.[34] Few alternates were ultimately needed, as the field filled primarily through exemptions and qualifiers without significant last-minute gaps.[34]

Weather Conditions

Pre-Tournament Forecasts

Prior to the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, meteorological forecasts anticipated typical links-style conditions for Northern Ireland in mid-July, characterized by cool temperatures, variable cloud cover, intermittent showers, and moderate winds that could intensify over the weekend.[35] The BBC, as cited in contemporary reports, predicted plenty of rain, particularly in the afternoons of the first two rounds (Thursday and Friday), alongside overcast skies and breezy conditions.[36] Temperatures were expected to range from the low to mid-60s°F (15-18°C) during the day, with overnight lows in the 50s°F, aligning with historical averages for the region but potentially challenging for scoring due to the coastal exposure of the Dunluce Links.[37] For the opening round on July 18, pre-event outlooks from sources like Newsweek described overcast conditions with precipitation chances not exceeding 20%, winds building to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph in the afternoon, and daytime highs in the low 60s°F.[38] The Washington Post echoed this, forecasting light but persistent afternoon rain on Thursday, morning winds reaching 15 mph by noon with gusts to 20 mph, and mid-60s°F temperatures, noting that while not severe, the dampness could affect ball flight and green speeds.[37] Early-week predictions, such as those aggregated by Action Network, estimated 30-50% chances of pre-noon showers on Thursday, transitioning to more consistent drizzle and light rain later, with winds contributing to "wet, dark, dreary" overall vibes across all four rounds.[39] As the tournament approached, forecasters highlighted potential volatility, with Golf Monthly summarizing expectations of "cool, showers and wind" mirroring Irish coastal norms, which could favor players adept at managing bounce and trajectory on the firm, fast turf if rains held off, or punish inaccuracies if gusts peaked.[35] These projections, drawn from the Met Office and BBC models, underscored the event's return to Northern Ireland after 68 years by emphasizing how such elements historically amplify the test of skill at Open venues, though actual conditions deviated somewhat with drier spells early on.[36] No major disruptions like storms were broadly anticipated pre-event, but organizers prepared for tee-time adjustments based on evolving wind patterns.[38]

Impact on Play

The weather during the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush varied significantly across rounds, with calmer conditions early allowing for low scoring before intensifying winds and rain later tested players' adaptability on the links course. The first two rounds featured mostly cloudy skies with winds of 10-15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph, interspersed with light showers, enabling aggressive play and birdie opportunities; J.B. Holmes carded a course-record 61 in the opening round under these relatively benign conditions.[40][41] By the third round, winds strengthened in the afternoon, contributing to higher scores for later starters while morning players like Shane Lowry benefited from milder breezes to shoot a 63, extending his lead to six shots. The final round saw the most severe impact, with tee times advanced by one hour to preempt forecasted gusts up to 40 mph and a quarter-inch of rain, resulting in slick greens, difficult lies in wet rough, and forced conservative strategies that inflated the field scoring average to 73.233—over a stroke higher than the prior rounds' 71.974 average.[42][43][44] These conditions emphasized links golf demands, such as precise wind-adjusted club selection and punch shots, punishing errant drives into fescue and bunkers; players like Tommy Fleetwood described it as "brutal" and "shocking," with many posting over-par rounds despite Lowry's steady 72 to secure victory by six strokes, showcasing his superior handling of the elements.[45][41]

Round Summaries

First Round

J. B. Holmes seized the first-round lead with a five-under-par 66 on 18 July 2019, navigating the Dunluce Links' challenging winds and firm greens effectively with six birdies against one bogey.[46] Shane Lowry followed one stroke behind at 67, buoyed by home support as the sole Irish player in the field, featuring birdies on the par-5s and steady par play.[46] [1] A crowded third place at three-under-par 68 included Brooks Koepka, Tommy Fleetwood, Lee Westwood, Tony Finau, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Sergio Garcia, Webb Simpson, and Alexander Noren, showcasing the depth of low scoring amid variable gusts up to 30 mph.[46] Highlights featured Emiliano Grillo's ace on the par-3 13th—the first hole-in-one in The Open since 2016—and Ryan Fox's blistering back-nine 29, with birdies on six of seven holes from 12 through 18.[1] [46] Prominent struggles marked the day, as Rory McIlroy opened with a quadruple-bogey 8 on the first after an out-of-bounds drive, closing with a double on 18 for an eight-over 79 that derailed his title hopes.[47] [46] Tiger Woods managed 78 amid back stiffness, bogeying the final hole after a conservative approach.[46] David Duval posted the field's highest score of 91, including a nonuple-bogey 14 on the par-4 seventh after multiple penalties in thick rough.[46]
PositionPlayerScoreTo Par
1J. B. Holmes (USA)66-5
2Shane Lowry (IRL)67-4
T3Brooks Koepka (USA)68-3
T3Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)68-3
T3Lee Westwood (ENG)68-3

Second Round

Shane Lowry of Ireland carded a second-round 67 to reach 8 under par, matching the pace set by American J.B. Holmes, who fired a 68 after an opening 66, for a share of the lead at 134.[1][48] The Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush, configured to par 71, presented challenges with firm greens and variable winds, rewarding accurate iron play and conservative putting.[49] Lowry's steady round included birdies on the par-5 fifth and sixth holes, leveraging his familiarity with links golf to avoid major errors on the back nine.[48] Holmes capitalized on early momentum with birdies at the par-4 second and par-3 fourth, maintaining control despite a bogey at the 16th, his strong ball-striking evident in gaining strokes on approach shots.[49][48] Trailing at 7 under were England's Tommy Fleetwood (67) and Lee Westwood (68), both benefiting from precise tee shots on the exposed coastal layout.[48] Further back, Justin Rose and Justin Harding reached 6 under, while major champions like Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth hovered at 5 under, positioning themselves for weekend contention.[48] Rory McIlroy, after an opening 79, mounted a remarkable recovery with a 65 featuring seven birdies, but finished at 3 over par, missing the cut by one stroke as 74 players advanced at plus 2 or better.[48] Tiger Woods also failed to make the cut, carding a 73 for a total of 9 over, hampered by errant drives on the tight fairways.[49] The cut line reflected the field's resilience, with low scores from early starters contrasting later groups facing softening conditions, underscoring the tournament's emphasis on adaptability to Open-style elements.[48] Lowry's co-lead positioned him as the sentimental favorite, given his Irish roots and prior experience on similar terrain.[1]
PositionPlayerNationalityTotalR1R2
T1Shane LowryIreland-86767
T1J.B. HolmesUnited States-86668
T3Tommy FleetwoodEngland-76867
T3Lee WestwoodEngland-76968
T5Justin RoseEngland-66867
T5Justin HardingZimbabwe-66867

Third Round

Shane Lowry of Ireland carded a bogey-free 63 in the third round on July 20, 2019, at Royal Portrush Golf Club, establishing a new tournament 54-hole record of 13-under-par 197 and a four-shot lead heading into the final round.[50][42] His round featured eight birdies, including four on the front nine for a 31, highlighted by consecutive birdies on holes 1, 2, 4, and 5, followed by additional birdies on 10, 12, 14, and 15.[51][49] The conditions were cloudy with occasional showers and winds of 10-20 mph from the north, allowing for low scoring compared to the windier final round, though still challenging on the Dunluce Links.[42] Tommy Fleetwood of England, who entered the round tied for the lead at 7-under after two rounds, shot a 66 to finish at 9-under 201, maintaining second place but unable to mount a serious charge as Lowry pulled away.[49][42] Fleetwood birdied early but stabilized with pars amid Lowry's surge in the group ahead. J.B. Holmes of the United States moved into third at 7-under 203 with a 69, while early leaders like Lee Westwood (England) and Tony Finau (United States) faltered late; Westwood bogeyed three of the last six holes to drop to 5-under, and Finau reached 6-under before closing with bogeys.[52][42] The third round saw Lowry's performance separate the field, with only Fleetwood and Holmes under par for the day among the top contenders, underscoring the Irishman's precision in windy links conditions.[49]
PositionPlayerTo ParRound 3 ScoreTotal
1Shane Lowry (Ireland)-1363197
2Tommy Fleetwood (England)-966201
3J.B. Holmes (United States)-769203
T4Lee Westwood (England)-571205
T4Tony Finau (United States)-571205

Final Round

Shane Lowry entered the final round on July 21, 2019, holding a four-shot lead over Tommy Fleetwood after a third-round 63 that set a course record at Royal Portrush's Dunluce Links.[53] Due to forecasts of severe weather, tee times were advanced by two hours, and play proceeded amid swirling winds gusting up to 40 mph and heavy rain, marking the most demanding conditions of the tournament and prompting conservative strategies from the field.[54][43] Lowry, playing in the penultimate group, opened with a bogey but responded with consecutive birdies on the fourth and fifth holes via solid approach shots, regaining momentum.[53] A bogey on the ninth after finding rough trimmed his lead temporarily, but he stabilized with a par save on the 13th from a greenside bunker.[53] Fleetwood, Lowry's closest pursuer, faltered with a double bogey on the 14th, dropping five shots behind, while Lowry extended his advantage to six with an 8-foot birdie putt on the 15th following a precise wedge approach.[54][53] Lowry closed with a 1-over-par 72—the first over-par final round by an Open champion since 1996—finishing at 15-under 269 for a six-shot victory, his first major title.[54][49] Fleetwood carded a 3-over 74 to end at 9-under, never mounting a serious charge despite early birdie opportunities he missed.[54] Tony Finau shot 71 to claim solo third at 7-under, while Brooks Koepka and Lee Westwood tied for fourth after 74 and 73, respectively.[49] As Lowry tapped in for par on the 18th, jubilant fans from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland swarmed the fairway in celebration, reflecting the historic return of the Open to the region after 68 years.[1]

Results and Leaderboard

Final Standings

Shane Lowry of Ireland won the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club with a four-round total of 269 (−15), securing a six-stroke margin over runner-up Tommy Fleetwood of England, who finished at 275 (−9).[49] The tournament concluded on July 21, 2019, with Lowry's final-round 72 preserving his lead amid challenging winds.[49] The top ten finishers on the final leaderboard were:
PositionPlayerCountryTotalTo Par
1Shane LowryIreland269−15
2Tommy FleetwoodEngland275−9
3Tony FinauUnited States277−7
T4Brooks KoepkaUnited States278−6
T4Lee WestwoodEngland278−6
T6Rickie FowlerUnited States279−5
T6Tyrrell HattonEngland279−5
T6Robert MacIntyreScotland279−5
T6Danny WillettEngland279−5
10Patrick ReedUnited States280−4
Lowry earned $1,675,000 from the $11 million purse as champion, while Fleetwood received $1,023,000 for second place.[49] A total of 156 players started the event, with 72 making the cut at 3-over par or better after 36 holes.[49]

Shane Lowry's Performance

Shane Lowry, representing Ireland, claimed his first major championship victory at the 2019 Open Championship held at Royal Portrush Golf Club from July 18 to 21.[1] Entering the tournament ranked 33rd in the world, Lowry posted a tournament-total score of 269, which equated to 15 under par, securing a six-stroke margin over runner-up Tommy Fleetwood.[2] His performance featured consistent scoring in the initial rounds followed by a record-setting third round, demonstrating resilience amid challenging links conditions.[55] In the first round on July 18, Lowry carded a 67, three under par, highlighted by birdies on several holes that positioned him near the lead despite variable weather.[49] He matched this score in the second round on July 19, sharing the 36-hole lead with J.B. Holmes at six under par, as steady play including pars on tough par-4s maintained his contention.[49] The third round on July 20 produced Lowry's standout effort: a 63, eight under par and a course record since the 2016 renovation, achieved through eight birdies against no bogeys, extending his lead to four strokes over the field.[55] [49] Lowry closed the tournament in the final round on July 21 with a 72, one over par—the first instance since 1996 of an Open champion finishing above par in the decisive round—yet his earlier advantage proved insurmountable amid gusting winds that affected scoring across the leaderboard.[2] Key moments included par saves on the back nine, such as on the 18th hole, preserving his wire-to-wire contention after taking control mid-tournament.[56] This victory marked Lowry's breakthrough in majors, underscoring his proficiency in Open-style conditions with precise iron play and putting under pressure.[57]

Aftermath and Reactions

Winner's Perspective

Shane Lowry described his victory on July 21, 2019, at Royal Portrush as an "out-of-body experience," expressing disbelief that it was happening to him even as he approached the 17th hole.[58] He revealed waking up that final morning uncertain about his ability to secure a major title, admitting, "I suppose I woke up this morning not sure if I had what it takes to win a major," which underscored his vulnerability amid the pressure.[14] Despite challenging winds and a mid-round struggle, Lowry maintained composure by focusing on staying ahead of runner-up Tommy Fleetwood, crediting conversations with his caddie, Bo Martin, for keeping him grounded.[58] The win, by six strokes, triggered an emotional outpouring, including hugs with his father on the 18th green and family, marking a personal triumph after overcoming self-doubt from a missed cut at the prior year's Open.[14] [59] Lowry later reflected on the immediate aftermath as one of the "toughest 24 hours of my life, in sporting terms," with sleeplessness and tension dominating before celebrations ensued.[60] He embraced revelry, filling the Claret Jug with Guinness and partying extensively, emphasizing the need to "enjoy the moments" after such a grind.[60] In subsequent reflections, Lowry highlighted the unparalleled crowd support as unforgettable, recalling people "cheering my name on every tee and yelling encouragement in my face," with chants of "Fields of Athenry" creating an electric atmosphere akin to a home Ryder Cup.[61] The event's blur-like intensity and whirlwind media frenzy followed, but Royal Portrush holds a "very special place" in his heart, evoking near-tears upon revisiting the first tee.[61] Looking ahead, he stated that another Open win would prompt celebrations "twice as much," affirming his commitment to savoring victories fully.[60]

Media and Expert Analysis

Media coverage emphasized the emotional resonance of Shane Lowry's victory, portraying it as a fairy-tale triumph for Irish golf after a 68-year drought for an Open winner from the island of Ireland.[62] Outlets like CBS Sports noted the win's deep impact on observers, with reporters describing personal tears amid the celebration, underscoring Lowry's vulnerability—he admitted post-round uncertainty about major-winning capability—and his rapid ascent from four missed Open cuts to champion via a Saturday 63.[14] The New York Times highlighted the six-stroke margin over Tommy Fleetwood, framing it as Lowry's first major in his homeland's first Open since 1951.[63] Experts analyzed Lowry's success through his composure in adverse conditions, particularly the final round's 35 mph winds and heavy rain that inflated the field scoring average to 73.233 from 71.974 through 54 holes.[44] Golf Digest credited his steady 72, making him the only player at double-digits under par, against a field where no top-24 finisher broke par on Sunday.[44] Players like Jon Rahm praised it as a "proper Open Championship" win, attributing separation to penal fairways, doglegs, and exposed greens that tested resilience over raw power.[44] Analysts noted Lowry's iron play and putting held firm, contrasting the field's struggles, with Rickie Fowler and Lee Westwood affirming the course's fairness despite difficulty.[44] The setup at Royal Portrush drew acclaim for restoring links authenticity, with media observing how weather amplified its challenges, validating the R&A's venue choice after a 68-year absence.[64] This consensus held that Lowry's prior form— including an Abu Dhabi win—positioned him, but execution in gales proved decisive, elevating a mid-tier contender to elite status.[62]

Controversies

Driver Conformity Disputes

Prior to the start of the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club, the R&A implemented random driver conformity testing on 30 selected clubs from participants, focusing on the Coefficient of Restitution (COR) via the Characteristic Time (CT) test to verify that clubface springiness did not exceed regulatory limits of 0.83 COR.[65][66] This marked an early phase of expanded on-site equipment verification, with no failures reported from similar tests on 30 drivers in 2018.[65] Xander Schauffele's Callaway Epic Flash driver was among those tested and failed the CT evaluation, rendering it non-conforming and prohibiting its use in the tournament; he publicly disclosed this on July 19, 2019, becoming the first player to acknowledge such a failure under the R&A's protocol.[67][68] Schauffele expressed frustration, accusing the R&A of unprofessional conduct and attempting to damage his reputation by publicizing the result, while emphasizing he would have voluntarily withdrawn the club if informed earlier.[69][70] Despite switching to a backup driver, Schauffele contended strongly, carding rounds of 70-67-71-70 to finish sixth at 4-under-par, six strokes behind winner Shane Lowry.[65] Reports indicated additional drivers from at least three manufacturers—Callaway, Ping, and TaylorMade—also failed tests during the same checks, though only Schauffele's case was publicly identified, prompting questions about selective disclosure and tour-wide equipment compliance.[71] Callaway CEO Chip Brewer defended Schauffele, attributing potential responsibility to the manufacturer for any oversight in design tolerances but questioning the R&A's testing stringency, as the driver's performance aligned with prior approvals.[72][71] In contrast, Tiger Woods confirmed his driver passed inspection after a practice round on July 15, 2019, underscoring variability in outcomes.[73] Separate but related scrutiny involved Justin Thomas, whose Titleist driver approached conformity limits during pre-tournament evaluation, necessitating a last-minute replacement to avoid risks under the same CT protocol.[74] These incidents highlighted tensions between governing bodies and players over opaque testing processes, with Schauffele later facing on-course ribbing from peers labeling him a "cheater," which he attributed to the publicity rather than intent.[75] The R&A maintained that such verifications ensure equitable play without penalizing manufacturers for marginal variances, though the episode fueled debates on consistency in enforcement across professional circuits.[65]

Rules and Pace of Play Issues

During the third round of the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, J.B. Holmes drew significant criticism for his deliberate pace of play while paired with Shane Lowry, resulting in a score of 69 that placed him at 10 under par, six shots behind the leaders.[76] Social media users and observers highlighted Holmes' methodical approach, which had previously attracted scrutiny during his February 2019 Genesis Open victory, though Lowry noted that their group remained on schedule and the pace did not hinder progress.[76] The issue escalated in the final round, where Holmes was paired with Brooks Koepka, a notably quick player who expressed public frustration over the extended time taken on shots, stating that it disrupted his rhythm and contributed to his own suboptimal performance.[77][78] Holmes ultimately carded an 87, the highest score of the weekend among those making the cut, seven strokes worse than the next poorest round, amid ongoing complaints from Koepka about the need for stricter enforcement in professional golf.[78] Despite these incidents, the R&A issued no slow-play penalties to Holmes or any other player throughout the tournament, a decision attributed to the governing body's reluctance to impose sanctions in their singular annual major due to the substantial financial implications for competitors and the preference to defer such enforcement to the PGA Tour and European Tour, which handle routine professional oversight.[77] Under Rule 5.6 of the Rules of Golf, excessive delays can incur penalties ranging from warnings to disqualification, but officials cited a lack of formal timing breaches sufficient for action, underscoring broader challenges in applying pace-of-play standards amid the high-pressure environment of majors where deliberate decision-making in variable conditions is common.[77][78] No other notable rules violations related to pace or procedural infractions were reported or penalized during the event.

Statistics and Records

Course Metrics

The Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club was configured for the 2019 Open Championship as a par-71 course measuring 7,344 yards from the championship tees.[79][80] This setup featured four par-3s, ten par-4s, and four par-5s, with significant modifications including the addition of two new holes (the 592-yard par-5 seventh and the preceding par-3 sixth) constructed on land borrowed from the club's Valley course to replace the original seventh and eighth for better spectator viewing and strategic play.[23] The overall design emphasized links-style challenges, with firm fairways, deep pot bunkers, and undulating greens exposed to coastal winds averaging 15-25 mph during the tournament week.[79] The hole-specific metrics, including yardages and pars, were established as follows to test professional accuracy and wind management:
HoleNameYardsPar
1Hughies4284
2Giants Grave5745
3Islay1773
4Fred Daly's4824
5White Rocks3744
6Harry Colt's1943
7Curran Point5925
8Dunluce4344
9P.G. Stevenson4324
10Himalayas4474
11Tavern4744
12Dhu Varren5325
13Feather Bed1943
14Causeway4734
15Skerries4264
16Calamity Corner2363
17Purgatory4084
18Babington's4744
These distances contributed to an average winning score of 15-under-par, reflecting the course's balance between length and penal rough, with the par-5s offering birdie opportunities while longer par-4s like the 11th (474 yards) and 18th (474 yards) proved among the toughest statistically.[79][81]

Player Achievements and Metrics

Shane Lowry secured the championship with a total score of 269 (−15), six strokes ahead of the field, marking his first major victory. His rounds were 67, 67, 63, and 72, with the third-round 63 being bogey-free and establishing a new course record at Royal Portrush Golf Club.[1] This effort also set a new 54-hole scoring record for The Open Championship.[1] Lowry led wire-to-wire after sharing the halfway lead with J.B. Holmes, entering the final round with a four-shot advantage.[1] Lowry excelled statistically, finishing 4-under on par-3 holes (perfect in regulation) and 7-under on par-4s across 15 birdies and 8 bogeys.[82] He carded the lowest back-nine score of the tournament excluding Ryan Fox's record 29, posting a 30 in the third round with birdies on six of seven holes.[82] On the front nine, Lowry tied for the second-most birdies in a single round with 7 in the second round.[82] Tommy Fleetwood placed second at 275 (−9), with rounds of 68, 67, 66, and 74, including a final-round rally that featured multiple birdies but could not overcome the deficit.[49] Tony Finau finished third at 277 (−7), demonstrating strong par-5 scoring at 6-under, tied for the tournament lead in that category alongside Brooks Koepka, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, and Danny Willett.[82] Lee Westwood tied for the par-3 lead with Lowry at 4-under.[82] Notable individual feats included Ryan Fox's tournament-record back-nine score of 29 in the first round, achieved via six birdies in seven holes.[1] Emiliano Grillo recorded the event's only hole-in-one, on the par-3 13th hole, the first at The Open since 2016.[1] The field produced 722 front-nine birdies and 23 eagles, with Kyle Stanley leading single-round front-nine birdies at 8 in the second round.[82]

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  45. Brutal conditions make Lowry a 'proper' Open champ - NBC Sports
  46. The Open 2019: first round – as it happened - The Guardian
  47. Rory McIlroy struggles to 8-over 79 at The Open - PGA TOUR
  48. The Open 2019: Rory McIlroy second-round comeback falls short
  49. The Open Championship 2019 Golf Leaderboard - PGA TOUR
  50. The-148th-Open-What-happened-on-Day-3
  51. The 148th Open | Day Three | Royal Portrush
  52. Leaderboard - 148th OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2019 - DP World Tour
  53. The 148th Open | Final Round | Royal Portrush
  54. Recaps (Final Round): Shane Lowry Wins The 2019 The Open ...
  55. Shane Lowry 2019 | Great Open Rounds
  56. The Open Championship 2019 Golf Leaderboard - PGA Tour
  57. Shane Lowry | Player Profile | The 153rd Open
  58. British Open 2019: Shane Lowry, the talented 'little fat lad with ...
  59. Shane Lowry goes from despair to Claret Jug in 12 months - PGA Tour
  60. Shane Lowry: 'If I win another Open, I'll celebrate twice as much'
  61. Shane Lowry Reflects On His 2019 Open Championship Win
  62. The Open 2025: Shane Lowry back at Royal Portrush - BBC Sport
  63. Shane Lowry Wins Emotional British Open - The New York Times
  64. The Open 2019: Shane Lowry wins by six shots – as it happened
  65. Schauffele in contention after driver ruled non-conforming - PGA Tour
  66. British Open: Schauffele's driver does not pass COR test - Golfweek
  67. Xander Schauffele's driver ruled illegal before 2019 British Open
  68. Schauffele becomes first to publicly fail R&A's driver test - NBC Sports
  69. Xander Schauffele lets rip at R&A for declaring his driver illegal
  70. British Open 2019: Following failed test, Xander Schauffele calls ...
  71. Callaway CEO on failed driver test: 'If anybody deserves blame ... it's ...
  72. Callaway CEO defends Xander Schauffele over failed driver test
  73. British Open 2019: Tiger Woods says his driver passed R&A test
  74. https://golf.com/gear/drivers/justin-thomas-replace-driver-close-limit/
  75. British Open 2019: Xander Schauffele still angry at R&A and now at ...
  76. The Open 2019: Social media torched J.B. Holmes for slow play at Royal Portrush
  77. #AskAlan mailbag: Why didn't J.B. Holmes get a slow-play penalty at The Open?
  78. Open, closed: 4 takeaways from the decade's final major - GolfPass
  79. Royal Portrush Course Guide - Open Championship 2019
  80. The 2019 Open Championship By The Numbers - Forbes
  81. The Open 2019: Royal Portrush hole-by-hole guide - BBC Sport
  82. Analysing the numbers - The Open Championship
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