Masters Sunday 'one of the weirdest days ever' for Shane Lowry but he could only be happy for Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy said winning the Zurich Classic with Shane Lowry last year "injected a little bit of joy back into golf". Pic: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
On the 15th during the final round at the Masters, Shane Lowry – well out of contention at that stage – turned to his caddie Darren Reynolds after Rory McIlroy double bogeyed the 13th. Lowry was thinking a fortnight to the Zurich Classic, a tournament which he and McIlroy won as playing partners the previous year.
“I said to Darren, ‘No matter what happens the next few holes, I think we're going to do well to get him to New Orleans.’ If things didn't go his way, I didn’t think he'd want to be here, and I thought if things did go his way, he'd want to be somewhere else.”
On Wednesday morning, McIlroy sat beside his friend and playing partner in the clubhouse at TPC Louisiana as Masters champion and the sixth ever golfer to achieve the career Grand Slam. “I've got more questions than I thought I was going to get,” joked Lowry, knowing where the bulk of the media attention was always going to land.
McIlroy spent much of the last 10 days back in Belfast, and in London where he’s building a new family home. He hasn’t played much golf and woke up on Monday morning with a cold. “I could barely get out of bed; I was feeling that bad,” said McIlroy. Still, he arrives in New Orleans in a good spot. How could he not?
“I honestly could not be in a better place in my life professionally, personally, all of it,” said McIlroy.
“It’s amazing what a year can do. This tournament last year was a really cool moment for both of us. I think it probably injected a little bit of joy back into golf for me in some way, which I think is really, really important, not to lose that.
“I had a great year last year, and I think this tournament was sort of the catalyst to the really good golf that I played for the rest of the year.”
For three rounds at Augusta, Lowry had also played well. On Saturday, he had a chance to reach eight-under but finished the day on five-under. In the final round, it all fell apart as he shot nine-over.
By the time McIlroy sank his putt to beat Justin Rose in the playoff, Lowry had forgotten about his own frustrations and was there to bear hug the champion.
“I just had a bad day,” said Lowry.
“Then you get to watch one of your really close friends do what he does. I was out of it for a long time and I was watching the leaderboard going around, then come in, and I have to deal with my own disappointments first. I actually went to the locker room for like 15 minutes just to gather my own thoughts, watched a bit of the golf, watched what he was doing out there.
“Then after that, look, I'm just happy for him. I know what he's been through the last 10 years since the Grand Slam was on, the pressure that's been put on him by… not so much by himself but by everyone outside has been pretty tough and he's had to deal with a lot of disappointment.
“It was pretty cool to see him do that. I think what everyone saw on the 18th green that day was just pure relief. I was very happy for him. Honestly, it was one of the weirdest days ever for me because you're out there trying to win the Masters yourself, but then when one of your close friends does it, you have no choice but to be happy for him because it is a great occasion.
When McIlroy thinks back on that Masters Sunday, he believes he’ll never have to play a harder round of golf in his life. The reaction to the win has surprised him.
“I spoke to two Presidents the day after, which was pretty cool,” he said.
“Just people reaching out from all walks of life, whether it be sports, entertainment, culture. Just all of it.
“People that you would never even think that would watch golf or would know what's going on, that was very, very humbling.
“I think people can see themselves in the struggle at times, and everything that you sort of try to put into getting the best out of yourself in that journey. I think people watching someone finally get it done, something they've been trying to do for a decade plus, I think it resonated with a lot of people.”
When the pair teamed up last year, their main aim was to pick up 400 FedExCup points each. There’s also a want to have a good time, maybe lift some of the pressure which comes with golf usually being an individual sport.
“I'm not saying a good time like we're going to be down on Bourbon Street every night, but we're here to enjoy it,” said Lowry.
“Golf at times can be monotonous. When you get a tournament like this, it just changes it up and it's just much more fun to play and you have each other out there, and especially with our caddies get on very well. We all get on very well, the four of us together.
“I was very excited that Rory still decided to come here because I just want to see what it's going to be like this week. I'm sure the crowds are going to be huge.
“Rory’s playing great golf. I know he's not done much practicing the last two weeks, so I am going to have to step up. But I'm sure we'll be fine.
“I've known Rory for years and we're good friends, so if I was sitting beside another guy that had just completed the Grand Slam and I was his partner this week, it might feel a little bit different, but I know him so well that nothing fazes me being around him.”
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