Our patrons
The 153rd Open
20 May 2025
Lowest rounds
/
Players who posted best scores last time The Open was at Royal Portrush
Shane Lowry's legendary Portrush performance comprised one of the greatest rounds in Open history – a round which set new records on the County Antrim coast.
His sublime Saturday 63, which included eight birdies, paved the way to an iconic triumph at The 148th Open and remains the course record on the current layout.
It put him in pole position to clinch the Claret Jug on a week many big names struggled to emulate the Irishman and master the unique challenge Royal Portrush provides.
While Lowry’s round is rightly remembered as the high point of the week, there were several impressive scores, and outstanding individual performances, to look back on.
So with The Open’s return to Northern Ireland approaching, we’ve been recalling some of the best overall rounds – and the top 9-hole scores – from last time around in 2019.
Champion Golfers go low
While nobody was able to come even within one shot of Lowry’s record-breaking 63, such was the scale of his achievement, there were five excellent rounds of 65 at The 148th Open.
One of those came from a man who knows Portrush very well – Rory McIlroy.
His stirring showing on Friday was met with huge acclaim from the grandstands, however it wasn’t enough for the Champion Golfer of 2014 to make the cut following his eight-over-par 79 in the opening round.
Rory McIlroy during day two of The 148th Open.
On the same day Xander Schauffele, who was joint runner-up at Carnoustie a year earlier, once again showcased his ability to go low in a links setting. He joined Justin Harding and Kevin Streelman in posting 65.
However, none of Schauffele, Harding, or Streelman would contend towards the top of the leaderboard come Sunday afternoon, each finishing outside the top 40.
Danny Willett had an excellent moving day with a half dozen birdies helping him post 65 on Saturday and setting him up to finish the weekend in a tie for sixth, his joint-best performance at The Open. Only Lowry posted more birdies (23) than Willett's 18 across the week.
Another record tumbles
Lowry wasn’t the only player to break records during The 148th Open.
New Zealander Ryan Fox recorded the lowest back-nine score in the Championship’s history with a remarkable tally of 29 on day one. This astonishing feat came after six birdies in his final seven holes – proving Portrush does provide scoring opportunities if your game is good.
His front nine didn’t quite match, and his heroics on the home stretch helped equate to an opening-day score of 68. Fox would go on to finish the week in a tie for 16th.
Ryan Fox completes his first round at The 148th Open.
Lowry went close to emulating this on his sensational Saturday, carding a back-nine of 30, and the County Offaly man did card the joint-lowest front nine score.
Both he and Jon Rahm were able to go out in 31 – Rahm on Thursday and Lowry on Friday. A tally which, despite some outstanding golf, wasn’t bettered across the opening nine holes all week.
It should come as no real surprise Lowry was the man setting the pace, and setting many of the records at The 148th Open.
The magical setting, the buoyant atmosphere, and the fierce but fair challenge thrown up by the golf course all contributed to an iconic Championship in 2019. And despite challenging weather conditions the scoring was world class.
Will we be reopening the record books at Royal Portrush in 2025?
Lowest scores at The 148th Open
Lowest round: Shane Lowry – 63
Lowest front-nine: Shane Lowry; Jon Rahm – 31
Lowest back-nine: Ryan Fox – 29
