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.

The trio bumped into Peter Lawrie at the airport and over breakfast, a practice round with Lawrie was arranged.

Lawrie arrived at Gatwick and went straight to the course while Lowry moved into his hotel before getting to the course at 2.30pm.

Lowry, sporting the ‘3’ logo on the collar of his emerald green shirt, stepped from his courtesy car to be handed two Co. Louth Golf Club score cards to sign. He then walked inside the stately building to be greeted by fellow Irish Open winner, Thomas Bjorn of Denmark.

Then after a quick lunch, Lowry was off to join Lawrie on the tee. He asked directions to the locker room while his caddy went to the Titleist equipment van for balls, gloves and caps.

Lowry, unfazed by all the attention, walked up to the tee, and without as much as a practice swing, smashed a drive that carried bunkers at 255 yards to the middle of the first fairway.

Lowry had played just 12 holes since his dramatic and stunning Irish Open success. He played five holes last Friday at Esker Hills with his father, Brendan, and then seven holes two days later with girlfriend, Deirdre.

And despite never having played the London Club course nor hardly any other venue on the remainder of the 2009 Race to Dubai season, Lowry is quietly confident of holding his own against his more seasoned rivals.

“I played in everything as an amateur and I’ve been all around the world playing so I don’t think I should be fine playing anywhere,” he said.

“But it’s just exciting to be out here. I am not putting any pressure on myself. There is no pressure on me at all and I just want to be out here playing good golf.”