Adam McKendry reports from Ballyliffin
SHANE LOWRY HAS admitted that he doesn’t find the Irish Open an enjoyable experience anymore after this year’s event at Ballyliffin saw him finish in a tie for 28th.
The Clara golfer finish two-under around the Glashedy Links, 12 shots adrift of eventual winner Russell Knox, after struggling to cope with the conditions in northern Donegal.
Lowry cut a frustrated figure for most of the tournament as he failed to ever gain any momentum out on the course and it spilt over after his final round on Sunday, a two-under 70.
“I’d be lying if I said it was a very enjoyable week, and that’s no disrespect to anyone,” he blasted. “It’s a tougher week than I normally get.
“It’s weird because I love playing in front of the Irish people, but I try my best and I try probably too hard to do well for them and for myself and for my family that’s here.
“I’ll look back on it, and I played some good golf this week. I just let it get to me for nine holes yesterday and that was the big downfall of my whole week was sort of nine holes yesterday, and I wish I could go back and play those again but unfortunately I can’t.
He added: “I wouldn’t say (it’s) suffocating, because I’m very lucky to do what I do, very lucky to be here playing the Irish Open, and I’ve actually won the tournament as well, so I’m very lucky to have that under my belt.
“It’s my own fault for letting it get to me. I said at the start of the week I was going to try and be better, but the harder you try, the harder it is.”
It left the 31-year-old, who won this tournament in 2009 as a fresh-faced amateur, struggling to sum up his week at Ballyliffin.
Despite the beautiful weather, the great scenery and the blockbuster crowds, it wasn’t a positive assessment of the week as a whole for Lowry, who will be hoping for better fortunes at The Open in two weeks.
“I think the week as a whole, average is a good word to use,” he sighed. “If you look at where I finish, it’s pretty average for me I feel, especially around here. I felt like I could have done something this week.
“I think wanting it too much is probably the biggest thing. The crowds out there almost want it too much for you, as well. It’s hard. I just find it difficult. I don’t know why.
“People at home might look at me and think I’m mad for saying that but that’s the way it is. I find it difficult. I find I put too much pressure on myself. I said at the start of the week I wasn’t going to but yesterday afternoon, I still did.
“Another Irish Open down and hopefully I’ll learn a little bit from this one. But haven’t seemed to learn from the last five or six. We’ll see.”
Lowry will now skip the Scottish Open next week at Gullane, instead opting for some rest and recovery ahead of the Open, with the third Major of the year his next event at Carnoustie.
His record at the event hasn’t exactly been stellar, having missed the cut the last three years and a ninth placed finish in 2014 his best result, and this week would suggest he has improvements to make ahead of the tournament.
But Lowry believes that after a week away from the competitive side of the game he’ll be fighting fit and ready to go at the Scottish links.
“My putter left me for nine or ten holes yesterday and somehow got it back today,” he said with an incredulous smile.
“I think there’s certain parts of my game that really need to sharpen up before Carnoustie because we all know how hard Carnoustie is, so I just need to go away now for the next week or so and try to get them better than they were this week and see what sort of game I bring to Carnoustie and try and do my best there.
“You definitely need your B+ or A game going to Carnoustie. I’ve shot some good scores around there but that’s in the Dunhill Links and I believe it’s a different animal when you get to the Open.
“Just be interested to see what it plays like. I’m looking forward to it but I’m really looking forward to a few days off first.”
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Great save by Kelleher near the end. Comfortable afternoon for him
Top player.
Super performance and result albeit against a woeful Watford. Unlikely to be a worse performance by any PL team this season. Salah is unbelievable and his goal was magical, give him the contract his performances and goals deserve. Great to see Firmino scoring. Though Kelleher had nothing to do he kept his concentration to make a very good save at the end. Gonna be a tight title race. Surprised Salah and Mane played the 90 minutes, Minamino could have done with game time especially against that Watford team.
Mo Salah is WOW!!! a pleasure to watch him…..Firmino not bad either : )
Time to sack Ranieri…….
@John S: dilly ding dilly dong
@Heckler davies: dilly ding, dilly gone
Class win and 3 more handy points. We will be hard to stop This season as we put last seasons blip behind us
Danny Rose will sleep tonight. Great performance against an albeit poor side!!
Give Mo all the money. Almost 0% chance of being able to replace him
Lewandowski and Salah are the best players in the world on current form.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a PL side as bad as that Watford side today….if they lost 10-0 it wouldn’t have been a surprise! Woeful…
@Ottomaaan: you forgot to mention that they were up against a solid side with a rampant front three, there, I fixed it for you…. :)
@Gordon Larney: no need to fix anything. That was the worst performance I’ve ever seen from a PL side, dreadful stuff and Liverpool could have put 10 past them.
@Ottomaaan: have to agree. I was at the game and never seen such a bad performance from a PL team.
Salah in great form. But how long canhe hold that form? He has 20-25 goals in him a season, but he’s up and down. If he held this form, he’d be close to 40 goals?
Bigger tests against Athletico and United on the way.
@Finn Faulkner: did you like your own comment…
@Finn Faulkner: how long can he do that. ? He has been doing it for the last 4 seasons. 104 goals in 166 games in the Premier league but you think he should score more. Okay so
@Finn Faulkner: you’re gonna need bigger bait on that hook ….
@WESHALLNOTBEMOVED: But by that metric 4 seasons at 40 goals would be 160 goals. He hasn t done that. But my point is that if he can keep that killer hat on his head for a prolonged period, and with our squad almost injury free, he could break records for us. I’m HOPING he keeps this lethal form indefinitely. He still can’t be put in the Messi/Ronaldo category until he starts being seriously clinical. I’d love to see him win the Balloon d’Or this year (or the next)
@len len: No, but seeing as you need likes, here, have mine. Have a lovely day.
@WESHALLNOTBEMOVED: you included his Chelsea stats there, it’s 102 in 153 for Liverpool
@Shane Roche: It’s still an amazing number of goals per season, but I think he can go even further, he needs to keep this current form. Biggest tests are against Athletico and then United.
That salah. Goal was pure roy of the rovers.. Pure art.. He must be a great dancer..
As good as Liverpool are, and they are really good. This in my opinion is all about Klopp.