Shane Lowry

Standing. Watching. Waiting. The bated breath. The curled toes.

The 152nd Open promises drama and on Friday morning, the anticipation behind the ropes was palpable.

They came from far and wide to watch. A family of faithful. Some old, some young, some with family, many with friends – all captivated by the pursuit of glory.

We may be two days away from crowning the Champion Golfer of the Year. But day two at Royal Troon may have helped shape the destiny of the Claret Jug.

In a shining display of resilience, adaptability and blazing self-belief, Shane Lowry was the headline act. They lined the fairways and surrounded the greens to see him. They looked at lies, assessed angles and discussed options – and so often marvelled at the excellence they then watched.

Lowry started just one stroke off the lead but walked off the 18th with a two-shot advantage after a masterful 69 that was a lesson in playing links golf in tough conditions.

The 2019 Champion Golfer has a strong affinity with Open spectators. Few can forget the Irishman’s emotional victory at Royal Portrush, and particularly that Saturday when golf met Glastonbury.

Spectators serenaded Lowry off the course after a spell-binding 63. This second round at Royal Troon, in yet more tough conditions, only strengthened that bond.

“I felt like I went out there, I was in control of my ball, did all the right things for a lot of the round,” he said. 

“Then when I got in a bit of trouble, I feel like I really finished the round well. I'm pretty happy with the day. To be leading this Championship after two days, it's why you come here, it's why we're here.

“I'll sit back and watch a bit of golf in the afternoon and see where it leaves me come the end of the day, and get out there tomorrow. 

“The job tomorrow as well is to try to put myself in a position to win this tournament on Sunday, and that's what I'll try and do.”

Lowry made a dream start. He floated an excellent 112-yard pitch to within nine feet on the 1st and held his putt for birdie. Behind the ropes, a woman turned to her friend and laughed, another gasped and a father and son fist-pumped. All invested. All captivated.

Another gorgeous approach on 4 set up another birdie and, while he bogeyed 5, an 11-foot birdie putt on the Postage Stamp generated perhaps the roar of the day.

There is so much for spectators to do at The Open: food to eat, shops to browse, demonstrations to watch. But Lowry was the biggest attraction on Friday lunchtime.

He had a wobble on the infamous Railway, the tricky par-4 11th that runs parallel to the railway. His tee shot veered right and into the rough, but his second was significantly worse. The 37-year-old hooked his ball across the fairway and deep into a gorse a bush – an outcome many of the locals will know all too well.

A double-bogey evaporated his lead but resilience is such a key part of The Open and Lowry recovered well. Like so many others, he birdied 16 and then the last by rolling in a 21-foot putt.

“I put myself there in a few big tournaments, and I've managed to knock them off,” he added. 

“So I've done it a few times. I don't know. It's hard to win tournaments.”

As he walked off the green, he held a two-shot lead over Daniel Brown and, with winds picking and scores subsequently going up, he is assured of a late Saturday tee time and perhaps the overnight lead.

Only three men in the field had won the Claret Jug multiple times. Lowry hopes to be two days away from becoming the fourth. So, how will he cope with the pressure?

“I don't know. I can get a bit down on myself and a bit hot-headed at times, but I really feel like that's why I've had the career I've had,” he added.

“I've spoken to people, my coach and my team about this at times, and if I go out there and try to be somebody I'm not, you're just not going to be successful. That's how I feel.

“I say it all the time, if I go out there and be myself, I feel like I can do very well.”

Whatever happens, we’ll be watching.