Tommy Fleetwood rides the storm but fails to capsize Shane Lowry at Open | Kevin Mitchell


It was no disgrace for Fleetwood to finish six shots behind the sentimental favourite who held him at bay through driving rain

The Sabbath was never a day for gambling in these parts and Tommy Fleetwood resisted the temptation in picking his way round a sodden, wind-whipped course with more devil in it than your average prison cell. He still did not win but he did as well as the elements, the Dunluce Links and his temperament would allow.

On a day when JB Holmes shot 87 and Cameron Smith reckoned a 15-handicapper would not get around the course at all, it was no disgrace finishing six shots behind the sentimental and rightful favourite, Shane Lowry. The ever-smiling Irishman held him at bay for four and a half hours in front of his home crowd through light breeze and hair-messing gale, through driving rain and not much sunshine.

Related: Ireland’s Shane Lowry stays calm to win first major at the Open as rivals fade

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