Lowry ready for his London calling

THE drama surrounding Shane Lowry since his stunning Irish Open success continued yesterday at the London Club in Kent. Lowry makes his professional debut in the €1.8m tournament with organisers grouping the 22-year old Offaly golfer with fellow Irishman Paul McGinley and England’s Anthony Wall for the opening two rounds.

Lowry had the opportunity to arrive in style in south-east England, but declined an offer to travel by private jet. Lowry received a phone call on Monday night from four-times European Tour winner Graeme McDowell inviting him to joni Rory McIlroy and himself aboard a jet travelling to Kent.

But Lowry’s new manager, Conon Ridge astutely declined the offer: “Graeme rang and said he and Rory would be happy to swing down to Dublin to pick up Shane, but there is no way this guy is arriving for his first pro event in a private jet,” said Ridge. Instead, Lowry, accompanied by Ridge and caddy, Dave Reynolds, flew commercially from Dublin Airport yesterday.