Lowry watches a drive on Thursday Source: Lenny Ignelzi

SHANE LOWRY WAS in sombre mood teeing off what was to become his best Major performance last week.

The Offaly man started the US Open on Thursday wearing all black and finished in ninth place wearing black as a way of marking the death of six Irish students who died when a balcony collapsed in Berkeley, California last week.

Lowry smiles as a putt drops during his round on Saturday. Source: Ted S. Warren

After going in to the final round three shots off the lead Lowry, like most at Chambers Bay, was left frustrated by the putting surface and his fourth round 71 left him with a par round and a share of ninth.

The Irish golfer reacts to a missed putt that led him to a finish of even par, five shots off eventual winner Jordan Spieth. Source: Matt York

However, the Offaly man looked on the positive side of a consistent performance on the big stage.

“It was just one of those days, it didn’t happen for me but I’ll take a lot from it, I’ll learn a lot from it,” Lowry told the Independent.