LAGER TOPS

Shane loved beer-inspired cheers

- CRAIG SWAN

SHANE LOWRY was swept along on a tidal wave of Tennent’s.

Now he’s hoping it’ ll lead to champagne again on Sunday.

Lethal Lowry loved the evening atmosphere at Royal Troon.

With a few pints sunk through the day, the crowds that stayed to boom in the gloom and roar him down the back nine were treated to a storming finish.

Lowry’s birdie on the last brought a massive cheer.

It might have been day one but, as the momentum, backing and noise lifted, it felt far deeper into the tournament.

Sadly for Daniel Brown, most of the hordes had finally gone by 9.33pm when he wrapped home his three on the last to overtake the Irishman by one and go to six-under.

But Lowry, the 2019 champion, admitted: “We’ve got three more days. I kept telling myself that out there because, for some reason, I felt like the crowd was getting very excited.

“It was late in the afternoon. A few pints of Tennent’s were had out there, I’d say.

“They were quite excitable and it felt more like the weekend. I just kept on telling myself there’s a lot more to do and there’s a few days left.

“I stayed in my lane, hit some good shots and I was pretty happy with how I handled myself.

“The walk down 18 was actually pretty cool. I said to Billy Foster, we walked beside each other, it’s the greatest walk in golf.

“I got to do it on a Sunday afternoon with a full house and that’s the plan, to try to get to do that again.”