'By far the worst score I could be standing here with' - Shane Lowry remaining positive despite tough Irish open

Shane Lowry of Ireland acknowledges the crowd after finishing his round during the final round of the Amgen Irish Open Golf Championship 2025 at The K Club in Straffan, Kildare. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Shane Lowry will head to Wentworth and next week’s BMW PGA Championship in confident mood despite shooting what he felt was the worst score he could have imagined for the Amgen Irish Open.

The world number 23 left the K Club on Sunday having carded a closing fourth round 71 to finish at seven under par for 72 holes.

Hopes of repeat his 2009 heroics as an amateur in his home national Open all but disappeared with a third-round, two-under 70 on Saturday and 24 hours later it once again was a cold putter that was the root cause of his disappointment.

Yet Lowry struck a positive tone as he reflected on his week in Kildare and looked forward to the DP World Tour’s flagship tournament in England starting next Thursday, an event he won in 2022 at a course that ranks as one of his favourites.

With a third Ryder Cup appearance for Team Europe looming against the USA at Bethpage Black in New York a fortnight later, the 36-year-old appears to be in a great headspace.

“So many positives to take away from this week,” Lowry said.

“I'm happy going into Wentworth next week. I'll figure out my putting in the next few days, and I'll be all right. I'll give it a run next week at Wentworth.

“Things are going well. I feel like I'm in a nice place. I feel like the next two weeks are important in the build-up to the Ryder Cup, but I feel like I'll be ready to go at Bethpage.

“I said at the start of the week, if I can't be excited for these next few weeks, I might as well pack it in.

“The Irish Open is always, not a tricky one for me, it's an amazing week and The K Club's been great and Amgen do a great job. We're very lucky to have someone like them and I feel like it's been a great tournament this week.

“But I always put a lot of pressure on myself to do well and try and get up to the top of the leaderboard. I felt like I did okay this week, but maybe not as good as I would like.

“But yeah, I can move on now to Wentworth and give that a rattle and then build up towards the Ryder Cup, which is obviously very exciting.”

Of his final round, which resulted in a tie for 15th finish at The K Club, Lowry said it had been a hard day in difficult conditions as the blustery winds and showers of earlier in the week returned.

“It was a grind for the most part. I felt like I played nice. Yeah, 71, I probably should have done a few better in the end, but that's the way it's been all week.

“I feel like seven under for the tournament is probably by far the worst score I could be standing here (with). So, a little disappointed, but what can you do? I tried my best, and that's it.”