Lowry can cause a major stir, declares fellow rookie McIlroy

CLOSE friend and fellow European Tour winner, Rory McIlroy has welcomed Shane Lowry into the pro ranks by declaring the new Irish Open winner has the game to qualify for this year’s British Open and US PGA Championship.

The 22-year-old Irish Open champion becomes the 12th Irish born player to enjoy 2009 European Tour membership. And in turning pro and joining the European Tour, Lowry will now be exempt till December, 31, 2011.

McIlroy was speaking after his round in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth yesterday where Peter Lawrie heads the eight remaining Irish in the European Tour flagship event.

Lawrie carded a two under par 70 to be the only Irish player under par and two clear of McIlroy with Paul McGinley next best with a 73.

In the space of a week, Lowry has gone from the 16th ranked best amateur heading into the Irish Open to 168th on the professional world rankings. Lowry is already ahead of the likes of fellow Irish Lawrie (169th), McGinley (170th) plus the likes of Thomas Bjorn (175th), former British Open champion Paul Lawrie (178th) and Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie (182nd).

Winning the Irish Open already guarantees Lowry a place in August’s WGC–Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio along with November’s HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.

He can enter and, or automatically qualify for July’s British Open at Turnberry, and if Lowry gets himself inside the top 100 by the end of July, he will automatically qualify for the US PGA Championship, starting August 13 at Hazeltine.

Lowry may have forfeited a €500,000 first prize cheque on the presentation green last Sunday at Baltray but he now has the opportunity to recoup that amount in nine Race to Dubai events before he even travels to the US for the Bridgestone Invitational.

McIlroy had no doubt Lowry would turn pro and once the news was confirmed, the Dubai Desert Classic winner was full of praise for his good friend.

“I knew Shane was going to turn pro as there wasn’t anything to wait for,” said McIlroy after carding a level par 72 on the opening day of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

“Even the Walker Cup would have been a let down compared to what he achieved last week.

“Shane’s into the World Golf Championship in Akron, he’s 168th in the world, and if he improves that, he can get into the US PGA. He can even qualify for the Open. He could qualify for the US Open. There’s just so much ahead for him.”

And McIlroy, who is presently the highest world-ranked Irish player, had some simple advice for Lowry.

“My advice to Shane is that it’s still the same golf ball and you’re still playing with the same golf clubs,” said McIlroy.

“It’s still the same golf ball, you’re still playing with the same golf clubs. Everything is the same except you are playing for money.

“Shane just has to keep doing the same things, don’t try to change anything. The only thing different is that you have prepare properly for a tournament.

“From there, it is a matter of hitting the shots and he is very capable of hitting all the shots. What I found the most difficult was doing the same things, going through the motions, and so you have got to keep going, pushing yourself.

“I found from being on the Tour that you play so much golf, maybe twice as much as you would if you were an amateur, and sometimes you are just going through the motions and those are the weeks you don’t do very well.

“So you have to keep yourself fresh. You have to keep the hunger, and the desire to play golf even when it’s not happening.

“But Shane can go out on the Tour now and just enjoy himself.

“He is the Irish Open champion. He is Irish.

“He can play the events he wants to play.”