IF GOLF IS truly a sport of confidence, Shane Lowry is living proof of the merits of being at ease with your game and surroundings.
Lowry is a relaxed character – calm, collected and humble – at the best of times but it doesn’t take long in his company to notice the extra spring in his step. It’s perfectly understandable, too.
Last week’s second-placed finish at the British Masters saw him jump to 18th in the latest world rankings and he heads into the final stages of the European Tour season in fourth position in the Race to Dubai.
All in all, it’s been a remarkable twelve months for Lowry – but he’s not prepared to bring the curtain down on 2015 just yet.
After taking an extended six-week break on the back of his breakthrough win in Akron in August, Lowry has returned with a renewed focus and is playing with a new-found swagger.
Such is the conviction in which he’s currently playing, Lowry admitted he phoned his manager before teeing-off at Woburn to say he felt like he was going to win.
Lowry's win at Firestone catapulted him up the world rankings. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
As it happened, he fell just short with Matthew Fitzpatrick sensationally claiming his maiden win on home soil. But it was another imposing performance from Lowry and one which reinforced his standing as one of the most accomplished players currently on the circuit.
“I’m playing with so much confidence now, touch wood,” he said during the week. “There’s times where golf comes easy and times where golf comes hard and, at the minute, it feels like the game is easy.
“I genuinely went into the British Masters with so much confidence. I played nine holes on the Tuesday and didn’t miss a shot. I do feel like I should have won last week but I’ve definitely kicked on.”
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The manner in which Lowry won at the Firestone Country Club was telling in itself. Surrounded by some of the game’s biggest named, he produced a flawless final round of 66 to foil the charge of home favourite Bubba Watson.
Inspired approaches at 10 and then 18 will live long in the memory. When the pressure was on and he needed it most, Lowry came up with the goods on the biggest stage of all.
“I definitely have more self-belief in the last few weeks,” he continued. “There’s no point saying I haven’t. I really feel like I can compete. I’ve only played in three tournaments since I’ve won but it will just be interesting to see how the rest of the year goes.”
Having already pocketed €2.45 million in prize money and earned valuable Ryder Cup points last week, it would be easy for Lowry to take the rest of the year off and focus on next season’s tilt.
However, there’s still work to be done before Christmas and he has his eyes on dethroning Rory McIlroy at the top of the Race to Dubai standings. It would be a fitting end to an indelible year.
Switching codes: Lowry took this week off and was in Dublin on Thursday. Seb Daly / SPORTSFILE
Seb Daly / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE
But it will require an inspired couple of weeks down the final stretch with McIlroy’s advantage currently standing at half a million euro.
“I have something in my head that I don’t want to say,” Lowry admitted. Asked whether his target was to overtake McIlroy, he replied: “You’re trying to pluck words out of my mouth now but… well… I’m half a million behind Rory.
“I don’t know what tournaments he’s playing in but, yeah, I’d definitely love to have a crack at it in Dubai. If I can win the Race to Dubai tournament itself, I can win the Race to Dubai. That’s kind of where I’m at.”
While the immediate focus is on a busy schedule between now and Christmas, Lowry has had one eye on 2016. He now has the luxury of picking and choosing which side of the Atlantic he’ll play on and has decided not to play on the European Tour until the Irish Open in May.
But, at the back of his mind, will be the race for points to earn a place on Darren Clarke’s Ryder Cup team.
“Depending on how I’m doing, I would hope to make the Ryder Cup on the World’s points list and that’s where I’m looking at now.
“If I’m close to it on the other list, I might change my schedule a little bit to try and make it on that, I’ll just have to see. The Ryder Cup is a massive goal, but its not the be-all and end-all for next year.
“I’m playing in big enough tournaments that if I keep doing what I’m doing I can definitely make that team and kick on up the world rankings.
“It’s been a great year and it will be hard to top next year but playing the Ryder Cup I suppose, and competing in majors is the next kind of thing I want to do.”
Lowry has a busy few weeks ahead as he looks to complete a memorable year with another win. Paul Harding
Paul Harding
Lowry’s down-to-earth and humble disposition means he’s remained firmly grounded despite all that’s happened. His sense of perspective is not lost and an appearance at Croke Park for the launch of Offaly GAA’s new development on Thursday was illustrative of that.
And while golf is very much an individual game, the prospect of representing his country at the Olympics is one that excites the proud Irishman.
“The Olympics is in the schedule but I’m not definitely on the team yet,” he revealed. “It’s going to take some more good golf.
“I’d love to go to Rio, it would be an amazing experience. Everyone knows how Irish and patriotic I am so to go there and walk out at the opening ceremony with the Irish team would be pretty good.”
The outlook is certainly bright for Lowry. 2015 was a year which elevated him to unprecedented levels and has provided the springboard to launch his quest for further recognition and honours.
“I just need to kick on, build upon this year, not get complacent and keep working hard,” he concluded.
If anything, Lowry is as hungry for success as ever and on the back of a progressive and productive season, he’s now primed to catapult himself further into golf’s top echelons.
Shane Lowry was at Croke Park on Thursday to announce Offaly GAA’s plans to develop a new centre of excellence. The Faithful Fields project will cost €2.25 million to develop in total with Offaly GAA aiming to raise €750,000 before 30 November.
'I probably enjoyed my 6 weeks off a bit too much but I'm focused again now'
IF GOLF IS truly a sport of confidence, Shane Lowry is living proof of the merits of being at ease with your game and surroundings.
Lowry is a relaxed character – calm, collected and humble – at the best of times but it doesn’t take long in his company to notice the extra spring in his step. It’s perfectly understandable, too.
Life couldn’t be much better for the 28-year-old from Clara. It’s just three months since his dazzling win at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational and he’s still riding the crest of a wave.
Last week’s second-placed finish at the British Masters saw him jump to 18th in the latest world rankings and he heads into the final stages of the European Tour season in fourth position in the Race to Dubai.
All in all, it’s been a remarkable twelve months for Lowry – but he’s not prepared to bring the curtain down on 2015 just yet.
After taking an extended six-week break on the back of his breakthrough win in Akron in August, Lowry has returned with a renewed focus and is playing with a new-found swagger.
Such is the conviction in which he’s currently playing, Lowry admitted he phoned his manager before teeing-off at Woburn to say he felt like he was going to win.
As it happened, he fell just short with Matthew Fitzpatrick sensationally claiming his maiden win on home soil. But it was another imposing performance from Lowry and one which reinforced his standing as one of the most accomplished players currently on the circuit.
“I’m playing with so much confidence now, touch wood,” he said during the week. “There’s times where golf comes easy and times where golf comes hard and, at the minute, it feels like the game is easy.
The manner in which Lowry won at the Firestone Country Club was telling in itself. Surrounded by some of the game’s biggest named, he produced a flawless final round of 66 to foil the charge of home favourite Bubba Watson.
Inspired approaches at 10 and then 18 will live long in the memory. When the pressure was on and he needed it most, Lowry came up with the goods on the biggest stage of all.
“I definitely have more self-belief in the last few weeks,” he continued. “There’s no point saying I haven’t. I really feel like I can compete. I’ve only played in three tournaments since I’ve won but it will just be interesting to see how the rest of the year goes.”
Having already pocketed €2.45 million in prize money and earned valuable Ryder Cup points last week, it would be easy for Lowry to take the rest of the year off and focus on next season’s tilt.
However, there’s still work to be done before Christmas and he has his eyes on dethroning Rory McIlroy at the top of the Race to Dubai standings. It would be a fitting end to an indelible year.
But it will require an inspired couple of weeks down the final stretch with McIlroy’s advantage currently standing at half a million euro.
“I have something in my head that I don’t want to say,” Lowry admitted. Asked whether his target was to overtake McIlroy, he replied: “You’re trying to pluck words out of my mouth now but… well… I’m half a million behind Rory.
While the immediate focus is on a busy schedule between now and Christmas, Lowry has had one eye on 2016. He now has the luxury of picking and choosing which side of the Atlantic he’ll play on and has decided not to play on the European Tour until the Irish Open in May.
But, at the back of his mind, will be the race for points to earn a place on Darren Clarke’s Ryder Cup team.
“Depending on how I’m doing, I would hope to make the Ryder Cup on the World’s points list and that’s where I’m looking at now.
“If I’m close to it on the other list, I might change my schedule a little bit to try and make it on that, I’ll just have to see. The Ryder Cup is a massive goal, but its not the be-all and end-all for next year.
“I’m playing in big enough tournaments that if I keep doing what I’m doing I can definitely make that team and kick on up the world rankings.
“It’s been a great year and it will be hard to top next year but playing the Ryder Cup I suppose, and competing in majors is the next kind of thing I want to do.”
Lowry’s down-to-earth and humble disposition means he’s remained firmly grounded despite all that’s happened. His sense of perspective is not lost and an appearance at Croke Park for the launch of Offaly GAA’s new development on Thursday was illustrative of that.
And while golf is very much an individual game, the prospect of representing his country at the Olympics is one that excites the proud Irishman.
“The Olympics is in the schedule but I’m not definitely on the team yet,” he revealed. “It’s going to take some more good golf.
The outlook is certainly bright for Lowry. 2015 was a year which elevated him to unprecedented levels and has provided the springboard to launch his quest for further recognition and honours.
“I just need to kick on, build upon this year, not get complacent and keep working hard,” he concluded.
If anything, Lowry is as hungry for success as ever and on the back of a progressive and productive season, he’s now primed to catapult himself further into golf’s top echelons.
Shane Lowry was at Croke Park on Thursday to announce Offaly GAA’s plans to develop a new centre of excellence. The Faithful Fields project will cost €2.25 million to develop in total with Offaly GAA aiming to raise €750,000 before 30 November.
Shane Lowry is using his fame to help his home county on the road to a GAA revival
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