In the bag: Shane’s caddie is just the job

THE Shane Lowry fairytale sucked in a sidekick yesterday with confirmation that his caddie of over two years will make the transition from the amateur to professional game with the new Irish Open champion.

Dave Reynolds is from Clara, just a handful of miles down the road from the Lowry homestead in Ferbane. Lowry singled out his contribution, and his calming influence in particular, after his play-off win last weekend. It is yet another heartwarming angle to the 22-year-old’s meteoric rise. It is both admirable and risky. There is little doubt that he could benefit greatly by choosing a more worldly bagman to guide him through his first steps on the European Tour. “He’s obviously not experienced or anything but I have to give him a chance to learn and see what he can do for me over the next whatever many months or years or how long it’s going to be. He’s been great to me and I feel I owe it to him to give him the chance to learn about caddying and to see if he can do the job for me.”

Reynolds will at least be familiar with the spotlight having played senior football for Offaly in the 1990s, during which time he earned a Leinster Senior Championship medal under Tommy Lyons’ charge in ‘97.

The new job is timely. “He was in the building (trade),” said Lowry, “but obviously that isn’t going great so he hasn’t been doing anything for the last while. I’m sure he’s happy to have a job now as well. I am delighted to be able to give him the opportunity because he was struggling with work. I’m happy for him.”

Another man remaining on board will be coach Neil Manchip who has been approached for advice in the last few hectic days.

“I’m not going to change coach. Neil has been great for me since I met him. I’ve known him for over four years now so there’s no point in changing. I feel what I’m doing now is the right thing so there’s no point changing.”

Others sounded out in the last few days have been Michael McGinley, Paul’s father; Gary Murphy, Johnny Caldwell and Rory McIlroy.

Some advised against turning pro, others suggested he jump at the chance. All wished him well, including Walker Cup captain Colin Dalgleish who will now have to do without the Offaly player when the Great Britain and Ireland team travel to the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania next September.

“I spoke to him on Monday for maybe 20 minutes or so and yesterday morning,” said Lowry.

“Obviously he was disappointed but he said to me he wasn’t going to try to change my mind and he said he’d see me in Loch Lomond and invited me down for some dinner.”