Shane Lowry expectations tempered by 'tough conditions' at Irish Open

Shane Lowry during the Pro-Am before the Irish Open at Royal County Down Golf Club. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Conditions may be conspiring against Shane Lowry at Royal County Down this weekend but while the major winner has dismissed his chances of landing the Amgen Irish Open title on Sunday afternoon, it will not stop his desire to win the tournament for the second time in his career.

Lowry would be a strong proponent of the argument that for Irish golfers, their national open is the equivalent of a fifth major championship and nothing would give him greater pleasure than adding to his success as an amateur at County Louth in 2009.

Playing nine holes as a practice round on Wednesday during the pre-tournament Pro-Am in a stiff crosswind and during frequent bouts of squally showers may have dampened the 2019 Open champion’s optimism of achieving it here this week but while the head says no, the heart will keep trying. 

While the decision to sever links with sleeve sponsor Kingspan in the wake of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry will have been a distraction this week, his excellent form on the golf course acts as a counterbalance after an impressive end to his FedEx Cup campaign with a ninth-place finish in the end of season Tour Championship and a bumper payday of $1.1m a dozen days ago.

“It's pretty good,” Lowry said of his game with a small measure of understatement, before adding: “Being completely honest, if we had perfect conditions this week, I'd really fancy my chances.

“Tough conditions is a bit of a leveller. It takes a lot of really good golf to really get up there and win. Not making excuses but I'm just saying the way it is. So I'm going to have to manage my game really well. I need to go walk the front nine now and try to get to know this golf course as best I can. Then I'm sure I'll be fine.

“I think if I can get through the first couple rounds with decent scores, I feel like I'll really give it a run at the weekend. Yeah, we'll see how it goes.” 

Shane Lowry of Ireland with coach Neil Manchip on the 11th tee at Royal County Down. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Winning the Irish Open as both an amateur and a professional remains on the Lowry wishlist and as to what that would mean to the 37-year-old, world number 32, he joked: “I'm pretty sure I've fully answered that question for the last 14 years.

“Like it would be cool to have both. What I did in Baltray was something that I'll remember forever, and I'll always say it would probably be the greatest thing I ever did; didn't realise I was going to do what I did in Portrush (winning The Open in 2019).

“I feel like, yeah, look, I would love it. It's one of the great events on the European Tour. It always has been. It's on a great golf course they can. This would be a good week to do it. The last time I played a tournament up north, I did all right. You never know.” 

The bank balance is more than healthy but Lowry remains grounded and in touch so when asked about the demands of his playing schedule he was honest but also aware of his hard-earned position in society’s pecking order.

“I played five weeks in a row to finish the FedExCup and I was absolutely shattered last week, and I had only three days at home and I had to come back out here for some stuff to do over the weekend. I've been a busy man this year, and not going to lie; I'm feeling it a little bit. I'm pretty tired. When I get going, I'll be okay. Adrenaline keeps me going, and I'll be fine.

“Like, I'll be fine. It's only golf. It's not like… I met a fella, I was getting a coffee in the morning, I met a fella, he was painting houses. I was like, you're going out to the real world, and I'm playing golf. I'll be fine.”