McDowell urges Open hero Lowry to turn professional
Lowry is expected to make an announcement on his future later this week with the Offaly amateur sensation likely to join the play-for-pay ranks and make his pro debut at next week’s European Open in Kent.
The 22-year-old is faced with the option of remaining an amateur for the next four months before taking his expected place in the GB & I Walker Cup.
That decision would please Colin Dalgleish, the GB & I captain, who will be looking for Lowry to boost his side’s hopes of winning back the Walker Cup that starts on September 12 at Merion Golf Club in the US.
But McDowell, who was a member of the victorious 2001 GB & I side, says Lowry will be wasting his time playing amateur golf.
“What Shane has done in winning the Irish Open is a nine out of 10 achievement at this stage of his career,” said McDowell.
“The Walker Cup would be a four or five out of 10 achievement so he’s got nothing more to prove in the amateur scene.
“It would be nice to be rewarded with GB & I Walker Cup representation, and it would be great experience playing in the States later this year, but would Shane want to be playing the Irish Close Championship the same week as Loch Lomond? You have to be kidding me if he didn’t want to play at Loch Lomond.’’
McDowell has questioned Pádraig Harrington’s decision to skip this week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Harrington was at Wentworth last night to attend a gala dinner where he was honoured as 2008 European Tour Golfer of the Year.
But the triple Major winner will be back in golf attire this morning to play a practice round at Turnberry, the host course July’s British Open.
“It’s a touch embarrassing for the sponsors BMW and the European Tour Pádraig’s not playing in our flagship event,” said McDowell.
“We do need our best players playing and Pádraig Harrington is all that is good about the European Tour golf the last few years, and we do need him here.
“Pádraig’s his own man and you have to respect him for what he’s achieved the last few years.
“But I am not supportive of Pádraig not playing here this week and I feel it’s disappointing he’s not here.”
McDowell revealed he is still undergoing treatment for a shin splints complaint that forced him out of last week’s Irish Open.
“If I was 30% Saturday morning, I am now about 75%,” he said.
“I’ve had two days putting my feet up and undergoing ice treatment and just resting the injury.”
Lowry, meanwhile, has moved him up from 16th to sixth in the world amateur rankings after his stunning Irish Open victory – the very last one on which his name might appear.
The 22-year-old has also earned a two-year European Tour exemption.
Still ahead of him in the amateur rankings are Australian Scott Arnold, who missed the halfway cut by eight shots at County Louth, Americans Morgan Hoffman and Rickie Fowler, Canadian Nick Taylor and South African Nicol Van Wyk.
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