Whether he won or tied for 35th, Shane Lowry's return to Royal Portrush six years after his Open championship win promised to be a special one. It has been anything but for the Irishman this week. While his week did start with a one-under 70,

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Shane Lowry’s Portrush British Open defense won’t officially be dead until Sunday’s final round is complete. It didn’t officially end with the 3-over-par 74 he shot in Saturday’s third round.

Shane Lowry won The Open the last time it was at Royal Portrush, but a controversy over his ball moving on a practice swing might make his return for the 2025 British Open one to forget.

Lowry had to contend with a virus, further hampering his comeback attempts, though the Irishman offered no excuses

Five of the last six Open Championship winners have had opening odds of +2000 or longer, including two of the past five victors having odds of +8000 or longer, in the major that has produced some of the most surprising winners in recent years.