Shane Lowry remains firmly in the conversation at The Open, and one of the liveliest talking points from Saturday had nothing to do with a bunker shot or a missed putt. In a moment that blended top-class golf with the kind of cross-code banter Irish sports fans love, Ryan Fox revealed he will be collecting €100 from Lowry after backing New Zealand to beat Ireland in rugby.
It was the sort of story that cuts through across sports ireland coverage: major championship pressure on one side, friendly dressing-room style rivalry on the other. And crucially for Lowry, the Clara man is still within reach heading into the final day.
Shane Lowry still has a say at The Open
Lowry signed for a third under-par round of the week, shooting 1-under to move to 4-under for the championship. That leaves him six shots off the lead and in a share of 11th, not ideal, but far from out of it given how demanding Royal Birkdale has played.
The Offaly golfer sounded encouraged by the quality of much of his play, especially across the front nine, where he felt he had control of the course. A couple of mistakes on the back side checked his momentum, but he still managed to keep himself in touch.
Lowry’s mood afterwards suggested belief rather than frustration. He knows an early run on Sunday could quickly change the picture, especially if the leaders fail to pull away on a difficult links setup. For followers of ireland sports news and irish sports, that is the key takeaway: Lowry has given himself a chance.
- Lowry’s tournament total: 4-under
- Position after round three: tied 11th
- Gap to the lead: six shots
- Big objective on Sunday: fast start on the front nine
Read More: Ireland sports analysis and breaking headlines on Daily Digest
Ryan Fox steals headlines with record-equalling round
While Lowry stayed steady, Ryan Fox produced the explosive round of the day. The New Zealander carded a 62, matching the lowest round ever recorded at a men’s major. It was a stunning burst of scoring in one of golf’s toughest settings and pushed him to within two shots of the lead.
Fox’s performance instantly became one of the biggest stories in golf ireland circles and beyond, but he added an extra twist when he spoke about his wager with Lowry. The pair had put €100 each on their nations before New Zealand’s emphatic 40-21 win over Ireland, a result that also caught the eye of ireland rugby and rugby ireland audiences following the weekend’s action.
Fox admitted he was delighted not only with his 62, but with the rugby result too. Seeing Lowry on the screen afterwards, he joked that he was looking forward to taking the money off him.
It was light-hearted stuff, but it added colour to a major weekend already packed with storylines, from leaderboard movement to player rivalries and fan reaction across ireland live sports coverage.
Explore More: Latest ireland sports updates, match reports and commentary on Media Digest
Why this story resonates beyond golf
This is exactly the kind of crossover moment that reflects ireland sports culture:
- An Irish major contender still in the hunt
- A record-equalling round from an overseas challenger
- A rugby bet adding humour to a high-stakes weekend
- Fresh interest from fans who follow golf, ireland rugby fixtures, and broader ireland sports headlines
Lowry now heads into the final round knowing he likely needs something special. Fox, meanwhile, has momentum, history, and a €100 claim waiting in the wings. For anyone following sports ireland, Sunday now has a clear hook: can Lowry make an early charge, or will Fox turn a brilliant third round into a career-defining major win?
Article/Image Courtesy: Balls.ie
