Shane Lowry targets good Malaysia showing to boost Ryder Cup hopes

Shane Lowry admits a good showing in the EurAsia Cup early in the New Year could help turn his Ryder Cup dream into a reality.

Lowry will today be confirmed by the European Tour as a member of Darren Clarke’s EurAsia European team to face a Jeev Milkha Singh led Asian selection next January in Malaysia.

Among Lowry’s Malaysian team-mates is the England foursome of Race to Dubai runner-up Danny Willett, Andy Sullivan, Matt Fitzpatrick and Chris Wood while reigning Irish Open champion Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark is one of the oldest in the side.

While Lowry has represented Ireland in the World Cup of Golf his selection will be a first in a full team event since turning professional.

“If I am going to play in a Ryder Cup, it would be good to have a team event under your belt and it would make it that little bit easier heading into a Ryder Cup,” said Lowry.

“Of course, playing in the EurAsia Cup could still be a bit nerve-wracking but when I looked at my schedule for early next year, and I will be playing mainly in the States, I wanted to play in the EurAsian Cup and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity.

“There’s some good lads who’ve made the European Team so it should be a great week.”

And he admitted there is another reason for his interest in competing. He explained: “When you look back probably everybody who has played Ryder Cup in recent times competed in the Seve Trophy and with that tournament no longer on the books, it is the EurAsia Cup that’s providing the experience to take into a Ryder Cup.”

The fact that Clarke is captaining both sides is another positive.

“I was on the same flight home from the PGA Championship in August as Darren and that’s when he first spoke to me about the EurAsia Cup but I wasn’t sure at the time if I would be playing in Hawaii at the same time.

“But then I’m going to be playing in Sun City in a few weeks and then I will have five weeks off before the EurAsia Cup before going back out to Dubai for about four days and then head down to Malaysia.

“I’m not sure how many points are on offer, if I was to win all my matches then that can do no harm in Darren’s eyes. So I am already excited about being a member of the team and I will be right up for it”.

In contrast to Lowry, Kjeldsen is no stranger to pro team competition having played in the 2009 Seve Trophy while he was a member of the winning 2010 European Royal Trophy side.

“I’m excited to be playing under Darren’s leadership in the EurAsia Cup as I just love team competitions and it was one tournament when I was playing well this summer that I set myself a golf of making.

“Darren and I played together in Turkey and we talked a bit about it and who he thought I could partner, so I am very excited. And hopefully if I can impress Darren in Malaysia and I continue to play well in 2016 you never know I could be again competing under his captaincy next September.”