Lowry feels among best in the world before the open

OFFALY’S Shane Lowry will go head-to-head with some of the greatest golfers on the planet as he attempts to mount a serious challenge at the 114th Open Championship, which begins today (Thursday) at St Andrews.

Lowry achieved a joint ninth placed finish at last year’s Open and enjoyed a similar achievement at the recent US open.

And despite telling the Irish Independent that he wouldn’t go as far as to talk about winning a Major at this stage, he admitted that he presently feels very confident and among the most in-form golfers in the world.

“Do I feel like I’m one of the best players in the world? At the minute, yeah, my game feels good. I feel like I’ve never played as well, and I’ve never been as good mentally,” he said.

The Clara native said that if he gives himself a chance to win the event going into Sunday afternoon, that he fancies himself ‘to win it down the stretch’.

Jordan Spieth is the bookies’ favourite to win the Open Championship but Lowry is getting plenty of backing from punters and and moved into 50/1 before a ball was struck. Ireland’s past Major winners - Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke - are all rated at over 100/1 to win by bookmakers.