Lowry settles into the limelight
But they hardly got a look-in yesterday as just about everyone focused on the arrival of the European Tour’s bright new star, the 22-year-old 3 Irish Open champion Shane Lowry.
It can’t have been easy for a young man making his debut in the paid ranks to face the assembled media. But Lowry has always been known as a cool, laid-back kind of individual and he lived up to that reputation with the impressive manner in which he dealt with every question.
He was cool, precise, courteous and amusing as the situation demanded. If he handles himself as well on the Jack Nicklaus-designed Heritage Course at this plush venue near Brands Hatch in Kent over the next four days, the Irish Open champion will have nothing to worry about. Perhaps the howling wind and vicious showers that yesterday lashed across a layout that’s at least as exposed as Baltray added to his peace of mind although even he will be pleased to know the elements are predicted to ease as the weekend approaches.
“This course will suit me because I’d like to think I’m a decent driver of the ball and straight enough,” he maintained. “The fairways are narrow and the rough pretty severe.”
Lowry had little difficulty in getting that issue out of the way. There were a few banana skins, however. Such as the gentle reminder that came his way from the European Tour that there are numerous “live” microphones at all tournaments and that any verbal indiscretions can be picked up. This was about the only way in which he faltered on his way to that famous victory at Baltray and he accepted the caution without reservation.
“These things happen, it was in the heat of things and it just shows how hard I was trying to win,” he explained. “I’m sure I’ll have to calm down a bit, though. I just got caught up in things. My manager Conor Ridge and I had a chat about it and it’s fine now.”
Then there was the offer of a lift to Kent in a private jet from Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy which his manager, Conor Ridge, declined on his behalf in the belief that it wouldn’t be appropriate to turn up for his first pro event in such a lavish manner. Once again, Lowry smiled and answered: “What would it look like if I arrived at my first European Tour event in a private jet? I think the media would have had a field day. Actually, I didn’t hear about it until I landed here yesterday but I wouldn’t have taken it up.”
Lowry is placing a massive amount of faith in Ridge and his Horizon Sports Management team along with Neil Manchip, his coach throughout his amateur career with the Golfing Union of Ireland. He accepts that they have the kind of experience that will help him through the early days of his professional career and will readily accept any advice on offer.
“I had a lesson from Neil on Monday and played only 12 holes between the Irish Open and getting here on Tuesday,” he said. Asked why he would need a lesson so soon after winning a professional tournament, he reassured: “It was more of a chat and getting back into the swing of things. Neil and I are very good friends and get on really well. We have spoken a lot about the whole situation.
“Professional golf was all I ever wanted to do and it was the right time to do it. I’ve known I wanted to turn pro since I was about 15. And after Baltray, I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. I know I made the right decision and everyone around me knows I made the right decision.”
While McDowell and McIlroy have publicly declared their approval, Pádraig Harrington would have preferred him to wait until after the Walker Cup in September. But Harrington was still as delighted at what transpired at Baltray and tried to contact him by telephone to pass on his congratulations.
“I thought that was a wind-up and that’s why I didn’t reply but I did eventually get back to him,” Lowry said. In contrast, he had no such qualms about returning a call to President McAleese on the night of his victory.
“Well, she rang me and I got a missed call and I had to ring the office back,” he revealed to widespread laughter. “What number came up? It was just a number. I can’t really remember it.”
By now, Lowry had the hacks eating out of his hands.
He claimed that his Irish Open win is “now starting to sink in and I’m just looking forward to getting out there.” “It’s the start of what will hopefully be a long career and I’m looking forward to it.”
And good humoured and understanding laughter was again the keynote when his devotion to practice – or perhaps the lack of it – was raised.
“I’m not a great one for practice and it’s the way I’ve been since I started playing golf,” he declared. “If I have a couple of hours spare in the evening, I would rather play nine holes than hit balls. Before a round, I go down to the range for 20 minutes, maybe a half hour, and pick whatever club my hand falls on and hit it. It’s just the way I am and I don’t feel I have to change that just because I’m out here on Tour.”
The purists mightn’t approve but such a refreshing attitude makes a nice contrast to those who hit practice balls until their hands bleed and get tied up in knots about theory. Colin Montgomerie adopted a similar approach to Lowry’s and he didn’t do too badly!
The European Open has managed to attract a stellar field to the London Club, Kent, this week in spite of a drop of around €650,000 in the prize fund since Ross Fisher won here last year.
This time round, the champion receives €341,220 as against €506,392 in 2008.
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