Shane Lowry turns focus to Bethpage and Ryder Cup after Open frustrations

Lowry said that The Open being played at Portmarnock in the future, 30 minutes from his house, "would be amazing".

Shane Lowry was disappointed with his performance overall at The Open but he did finish with a 66. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

A few days with family beckon now for Shane Lowry after a frustrating Open week that at least finished with a blistering 66. Beyond that lie the end-of-season playoffs and a Ryder Cup in Bethpage that will consume his thoughts from here on in.

“Obviously I would have liked to do better this week, there's no doubt about that,” said the 2019 Open champion at the same Royal Portrush track. “But it is what it is. I tried my best. I gave it everything I could, and it wasn't to be.

“For me now the next two months… Obviously the playoffs are huge, but my focus and my work will be getting out of bed every morning to prepare for hopefully going to Bethpage and winning that Ryder Cup.

“It's a big thing for us Europeans, and it's a big thing for me. Major season is over now, so everything turns towards the Ryder Cup.” 

Lowry had to wait until 2021 to make his Ryder Cup debut and that proved to be an inauspicious experience as Padraig Harrington’s European team suffered a 19-9 trouncing at Whistling Straits with Lowry winning once and losing twice.

Rome last time out was much better with the hosts winning by five points at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club and the Irishman pitching in with a win and half-point from his three rounds over the three days.

The top six ranked players following the Betfred British Masters on August 24th will qualify automatically for Team Europe. Lowry is currently in that last automatic spot and he admits that winning one on US soil would be extra special.

“Yeah, it would be up there with everything else. I can't speak for other players, but personally I put it way up there preparing, getting ready, trying to make the team, trying to go there and win.

“There's probably not many days go by that I don't think about it. I think, yeah, it would be up there, and I would love to do something like that.” 

Lowry laughed when it was put to him that the reception he would receive at Bethpage, should he make it, would likely be very different than the one he soaked up at Portrush this week, but he knows what to expect in the event and believes forewarned is forearmed.

As for this week, he had put so much of himself into this 153rd Open on Irish soil and felt that he had got little enough back for his efforts in terms of scores and luck. A two-shot penalty on Friday and a virus that hampered him Saturday certainly didn’t help.

He finished on two-under par, ten behind 54-hole leader Scottie Scheffler who had yet to tee off before Lowry finished but he loved the crowds and the feedback he heard from other players was all centred on how much they loved the venue and the surrounds.

The hope is that The Open could extend its Irish embrace to include Portmarnock in the not-too-distant future. The R&A has made positive soundings and are in the midst of a feasibility study on it and Lowry would obviously love to see it happen.

“I've heard they're talking about it. I've heard they might go there. It would be amazing, 30 minutes from my house. I'd be able to stay at home and play in an Open. It's one of the best golf courses in the world. It's good enough to host an Open, and hopefully it will soon.”