Lowry to turn pro

Shane Lowry, European golf’s newest star, has turned professional and will make his debut in next week’s European Open at the London Club in Kent.

The 22-year-old stunned the sport on Sunday when, playing his first ever Tour event, he beat eight of the world’s top 50 – Open and US PGA champion Padraig Harrington included – and 21 of the top 100 in lifting the Irish Open.

That made Lowry only the third amateur ever to land a title on the circuit and, despite Walker Cup captain Colin Dalgleish’s hopes that he would not turn pro until after September’s match with the Americans, he has decided not to wait.

Lowry said winning the Irish Open forced him to reassess his career and he has spent recent days discussing the issue with his family and coach.

He said today: “I have now decided to turn professional immediately as I feel this will give me the greatest chance of becoming the best player I can be in the future.”

The Co. Offaly golfer, who made the announcement at a news conference at a Dublin hotel, said his original plan had been to turn pro after the Walker Cup in September.

However, he said he was confident he was making the right decision for his career.

He will officially take out membership of the PGA European Tour in the coming days.

“I am fully aware that playing against some of the greatest players in the world as a professional on a weekly basis, will be new territory for me and it will be a difficult challenge.

“However I am confident it is something I am ready for.”

But he added: “There is a tinge of sadness for me leaving my amateur career behind.”

Rory McIlroy, a partner of Lowry in his amateur days, is in no doubt that he made the right decision.

“I don’t think there was anything to wait for,” said the 20-year-old. “Even the Walker Cup would be a letdown compared to what he did last week.

“My advice to him is to keep doing the same things, don’t try to change anything and keep having goals.

“You also need to prepare well and keep yourself fresh. You’ve got to keep your hunger and desire to play golf.

“He can enjoy himself – he’s Irish Open champion – and he can schedule better than guys who have been out here for 20 years.

“He’s in a very fortunate position.”

McIlroy did play in the Walker Cup two years ago before switching, but that match was in front of his home fans at Royal County Down.

His pro debut came later the same month and in only his second event, the Dunhill Links, he finished third.

Lowry, whose win gave him a two-year Tour exemption, becomes a stablemate of Ryder Cup star Graeme McDowell and England’s Ross Fisher - next week’s defending champion – at the Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management.

Lowry said: "The decision to turn professional was obviously at the forefront of my mind all week, but the decision on what management company to sign with to manage my career is just as important and was something that I needed to think hard about.

“Once I sat down with the team at Horizon Sports Management I felt very comfortable with them – I am really happy with my decision and I know that I am in good hands.

“My manager Conor Ridge has told me to just go and play golf and they will look after everything else, which was music to my ears to be honest.

“The whole professional experience will be very new to me and it gives me great confidence to know that I have a team of people around me to advise me appropriately, and guide me through the early stages of my professional career.

“I have had great support from the likes of Graeme McDowell and other players who I would know in the Horizon Sports stable and it is nice to know that these guys will be looking out for me when I play my first few European Tour events as a professional in the coming months.”

Also announced today was the fact that Lowry will receive a development grant from the Irish Sports Council through the Team Ireland Golf Trust.

John Treacy, the Council’s Chief Executive, stated: “The Team Ireland Golf Trust was established to help young golfers make the transition from amateur to professional.

“The Trust will provide €20,000 to help Shane Lowry become established on Tour. In addition he will receive access to sports science and medicine support from the Institute of Sport and free use of the facilities at the GUI Academy in Carton House.

“The Irish Sports Council supported Shane as an amateur through the high performance programme of the GUI and we are delighted to support him on the next stage of his career as a professional golfer.”

Lowry's Irish Open victory at the weekend was as dramatic as they come.

On Friday he fired a 10-under-par 62 – it equalled the lowest ever Tour round by an amateur – to take the halfway lead, shared top spot with England’s Robert Rock with a round to go and then missed a three-foot putt for the title on the final green.

Rock then missed a nine-footer to win when they went into sudden death and two holes later his bogey six allowed the local hero to tap in and be engulfed by fans.

Lowry’s amateur status meant he could not accept the first prize of around €500,000 – Rock gratefully accepted that – but next week he will be competing for a £300,000 (€342,000) winner’s cheque.

It was only two years ago that Spaniard Pablo Martin became the first amateur to win a Tour title.

That was at the Portuguese Open, but his exemption runs out at the end of this season and after finishing 178th on the Order of Merit in 2007 and 182nd last year he remains in danger of a trip to the qualifying school in November.

The other amateur winner was New Zealander Danny Lee at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia in February. He waited until after last month’s Masters at Augusta – he was exempt there through his US Amateur victory – before switching to the paid ranks.