US Open star breaks down in tears in emotional interview about dad's death

Golf star Justin Lower became overcome with emotion when he thought about his late father. This year's US Open fell on Father's Day, which is always a bitter sweet occasion for the Ohio native. 

In 2005, Lower's father Tim and his 10-year-old brother Chris were killed in a horrific car accident while they were on their way to pick up then-15-year-old Lower from the golf course. Lower is a father himself to an 18-month-old daughter named Arianna Lynn, whose name is inscribed on a bracelet he wore on the course. 

In his first Major start, he carded a final-round 70 at Pinehurst No.2 not long after squeezing into the cut on the number (5-over) while also bouncing back from the third-round 74. When the action came to an end, Lower struggled to hold back the tears when he spoke about what Fathers' Day meant to him. 

In an interview with pgatour.com, he said: “It’s been cool. Today was obviously cool, just being Father’s Day... with my past and with my life now, being a dad, it’s just really cool to play on this day for sure.

“I think (my dad) would have been happy with the way I handled myself this week. I usually get pretty fired up throughout the week if I make mistakes and whatnot, but I told myself this week, it’s obviously going to be hard … just accept it and move on. 

“I wish I could be like that every week; I think I’d be in a lot better shape. I think (my dad) would be happy, for sure.”

Lower's golf career has been an emotional rollercoaster. In 2018, he missed an eight-foot putt that would jave sealed his tour card via the 2018 Korn Ferry Tour Finals, before eventually earning his card on the final hole in the same competition three years later. 

At Pinehurst, the Ohioan was never in contention to trouble those at the top of the tree. But he did manage to record one of the shots of the tour when he managed to chip in for a birdie on the par-4 8th hole. 

“The first round, the first tee shot, I got a little bit emotional," Lower admitted. "Just thinking about it all, and then the first tee shot today.

"First Sunday tee shot at the U.S. Open, yeah, it’s pretty cool. I just wish my dad and my brother as well, that they were here to see it. It’s in the past, but it still would be nice to have them here.”