ON top of Shane Lowry becoming only the fifth Irish golfer to win golf's coveted Claret Jug, there was double success with a Co Down caddy also tasting major glory.
Brian 'Bo' Martin, a former champion at the Ardglass golf club, has been working with Lowry since September last year and has been credited with improvements in the Offaly man's game.
Speaking on Saturday, Lowry described Martin as a key factor in his recent success.
"Bo has been great for me over the last year. It's like he's given me a new lease on life," he said
"He's so chilled. He's so relaxed. Maybe he isn't inside but he definitely comes across that way."
Hailing from Clara in Co Offaly, Shane Lowry is married to Wendy and they have a daughter named Iris.
The Lowry family has a distinguished GAA background, with Shane's father Brendan and uncles Michael and Seán all members of the victorious Offaly All-Ireland-winning side, which stopped Kerry's five-in-a-row tilt in 1982.
The latter also won All-Ireland titles in consecutive years in 1971 and 1972. The trio primarily played their club football for Ferbane, who won a Leinster Senior Championship in 1986 and five Offaly Senior Championships in a row from 1986 through to 1990.
An avid GAA fan, the new Open champion has labelled Offaly hurler Johnny Dooley as his sporting hero, while he has also expressed admiration for legendary Kerry footballer, Colm Cooper.
His father Brendan said his own achievements paled in comparison's to his son's triumph: "There's no comparison at all when your son does that," he said.
"It was my birthday last Friday, I was 60 last Friday, that's why he handed me the thing and said 'Happy birthday Dad'."
