Team-focused Lowry keen to add to Irish Ryder Cup history 

This week, the aim is not simply defending their gold but joining a select group who’ve won on American soil. Shane Lowry knows what it could all mean.

Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy of Team Europe during practice. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

With European leader Rory McIlroy actively restraining himself on the eve of a Bethpage battle with so much on the line, his close friend Shane Lowry did what all great teammates do and stepped in to carry the load.

Less than 24 hours out from a Ryder Cup renewal here which feels tantalisingly poised, Lowry spoke with passion about the opportunity on offer in Long Island between now and Sunday. 

He sees the 45th staging of the matches as a chance to join the greats of Irish golf. That’s from an individual perspective. But in truth, Lowry is not at all thinking individually. None of the Europeans are.

The Offaly man was one of the last of Luke Donald’s dozen to speak before action gets underway on Bethpage’s iconic Black course with Friday morning’s foursomes. 

Over four long days of lead-in, the camaraderie and chemistry of Donald’s defending champions has been one of the most consistent features. 

McIlroy may be at the helm of the team’s bid for a first away win since 2012 but Lowry is at its very heart.

Lowry will play cheerleader for the opening session of action after the first pairings of the 2025 gathering were unveiled on Thursday evening. 

Donald opted to go with a winning combination from Rome by sending Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton out to face Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas in the tournament’s opening match. 

That pairing means DeChambeau will almost certainly unleash the first shot of the Ryder Cup, a moment sure to send the decibels soaring early.

Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick face world No.1 Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley in the second match with McIlroy partnering Tommy Fleetwood against Collin Morikawa and Harris English with Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland facing the experienced US combo of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay.

Bradley got the patriotism flowing on Thursday as he sprinted up the 18th hole with a large Stars and Stripes as his players wrapped up a final tune-up. 

They looked a team feeling particularly confident. Now the real tests begin.

Lowry will almost certainly swing into things in the afternoon fourballs that follow. On the range, in the team room, across the 18 holes that the Europeans have got a good feel for, he has been a loud and proud voice. 

With the host nation sure to be wound all the way up as Donald Trump drops in to support Keegan Bradley’s home team, matching those decibels will be a challenge. But Lowry doesn’t know any other way.

“I can't be anyone but myself and the way I think about things is maybe different to other players. Other players might be more individual, but honestly, I love this. I live for this,” he said on the eve of action. “As long as I live I want to be involved in Ryder Cups, as long as I'm playing professional golf I want that to be the case. That's just me. You can't get away from who you are.

“I am here now and I want to bring as much to the team as I can. I want to win and regardless of what has gone on for me this year, if I win this week I'll sit back and be pretty happy with myself.

“It's Thursday now and things are going to get serious pretty soon. I think we are all very happy with how things are going so far, I played practice rounds this week with seven different players and everyone seems to playing pretty good. We are quietly confident, but it's going to be very hard. It is hard to win away but as a team we have strong belief in ourselves.” 

Something that Donald has focused on as captain over the past two-plus years is fostering national as well as European pride in his players. What they do is for continent, sure, but for country too. It worked a charm in Rome in 2023 when a hotly favoured US team was trounced at Marco Simone. 

This week, the aim is not simply defending their gold but joining a select group who’ve won on American soil. Lowry knows what it could all mean.

“You look back to the greats of Irish golf. And we have been watching old videos in the team room this week, of Oak Hill and Philip Walton; Christy Junior in the Belfry; [Paul] McGinley; Eamon D'Arcy too. All the great Irish golfers have had a big part to play in the Ryder Cup and I hope to add to that this week.” 

Amid sluicing September rains on Long Island throughout Thursday, McIlroy had opted to keep his powder dry. Having taken a shot at Bryson DeChambeau last weekend, he insisted on tempering things as opening tee shots finally moved into view.

“I promised Luke I would only talk about the European Team today,” McIlroy, playing in his eighth edition of the tournament said. “I'm going to stick to it.” 

Rahm, who partnered fellow LIV defector Hatton to a 2-0 record in Rome last time out, is happy to again have McIlroy rolling out not too far behind him. 

Having completed the career grand slam this season, the Master champion is ravenous to achieve another career goal with a second road win.

“He's gone from obviously being an incredibly good player to a great Ryder Cup player to now being, I would say, the cornerstone that Team Europe needs,” Rahm said. “It's special to have him around. He's a heck of a superstar.”