The four-time major winner dominated at Royal Portrush to win The Open on Sunday, but a different test in the team-based Ryder Cup can impact his legacy in a different way to Tiger Woods
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JonRahmfuriouslygesticulatedfortheballtostopduringthethirdroundatthepar-fivesecondatRoyalPortrushonSaturday.ShaneLowry’sball,thatis,withhisRyderCupteammateonlyjustbeginningwhatwouldunfoldintoagruelingthree-over-parroundof74toscupperanylingeringhopesofcontendingatTheOpen2025.
TheIrishmanwasreboundingfromFriday’sharshrulingtobelatedlydockhimtwostrokesafterhisballbarelymovedfollowingapracticeswing.The2019OpenchampionlaterdetailedhowaboutofsicknesslefthimdeflatedandlackingenergythroughoutSaturday.
ItistoLowry’screditthathehandledthatearlymentalchallengesowell,eveniftherewereoutburststhroughoutanarduousweekontheDunluceLinks.Aftergatheringhissecondintotwo,heflickedtheballupandoutofanastypatchofroughwithhiswedge,jugglingtheballandacceptingaone-shotpenaltytodroptheballinanadjacentfairway.Therewereeveneffortstotemperhostilitybetwee