Shane Lowry ready to light up Firestone

Shane Lowry will use this fortnight of competition in the States to finally establish himself well inside the top-50 on the world rankings.

Lowry has been on the top-50 ranking ‘bubble’ since last November when he moved to 47th, and into the top-50 for a first occasion in his career, following his fifth place in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

The Carton House-attached pro will tee up in today’s WGC – Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio ranked 48th in the world.

“It’s firstly nice to come back here to Firestone knowing that there is no cut and you are guaranteed four rounds, “ said Lowry. “I first played here in ’09 so to come back here six years later I just feel a different player and having played the course already this week there is spots out there where I am hitting the ball 30 yards longer than I did back in 2009.

“While I am lying about 27th on the Race to Dubai I am also looking to jump up the world rankings.

“So hopefully two decent results these next two weeks can get me well and truly locked into the top-50 as that is the ideal scenario for me competing in what will be my last two weeks in the States this year.

“I have pretty much secured my PGA Tour card for next year but cementing my place inside the top-50 is the big goal.”

And while Lowry looks to the assurance of being exempt for the Majors and WGCs he’s expressed surprise Tiger Woods, an eight-time winner of the Bridgestone Invitational, is not exempt.

“It’s quite bizarre that you win a single tournament like this eight times and there is no exemption for a player like Tiger,” said Lowry.

Joining Lowry is Pádraig Harrington and delighted to be teeing up in the $ 9.25m event for a first occasion since 2011. “It’s great to be back,” he said. “It’s also one of the perks in winning the Honda Classic. When you win, you’re winning, you’re not too worried about that so it’s a nice reminder of your win, to be here.”

Graeme McDowell completes the Irish contenders.

Meanwhile Rory McIlroy has heightened speculation surrounding his return to action by posting a video which shows him working out in the gym without any apparent discomfort from his injured ankle.

McIlroy has not played since suffering a “total rupture” of ligaments in his left ankle during a game of football with friends on July 4, an injury which ruled him out of the Scottish Open and the defence of his Open and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational titles.

The 26-year-old has yet to say whether he will be able to defend the US PGA Championship next week and on Tuesday his publicist denied reports he had scheduled a practice round at Whistling Straits on Saturday.