Shane Lowry's 2026 resolution: Receive the Green Jacket from Rory McIlroy

The Offaly man told RTE's Greg Allen that his dream of becoming the first Irishman to win the Masters has been replaced with a new one — follow McIlroy into Butler's Cabin this April 

ON MY SHOULDERS: Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy of Team Europe during practice at the Bethpage Black Course, Farmingdale, New York ahead of the 45th Ryder Cup which starts tomorrow. Picture date: Thursday September 25, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Mike Egerton/PA Wire

As the rest of the nation begin to jot down a New Year's resolution or two, Shane Lowry will be joining in. In 2025 he fulfilled one lifelong ambition, etching his name into Ryder Cup history. But his dream of being the first Irishman to win the Masters disappeared when close friend Rory McIlroy got there first. 

Now the 2026 resolution has been rejigged — Lowry wants to have McIlroy be the one to raise the Green Jacket on to his broad shoulders by winning it all at Augusta this coming April. 

In a wide-ranging and typically engaging end-of-year interview with RTE golf correspondent Greg Allen, Lowry outlined his most ideal scenario — the lifelong friends meeting inside the Butler Cabin once the 2026 Masters has reached its conclusion. 

"I've always said to myself that I want to be the first Irishman to win the Masters. That was always my goal in my head," Lowry said. "Obviously that can't be the case now. So I think the only thing that would be almost as good as that would be Rory slipping the green jacket on me. I've thought about that.

"So honestly, every day I go to work, every morning I wake up and I'm doing something for my golf, I'm thinking about that. That's the number one goal now for the next four months."

Winner of a major six years ago when he claimed the 2019 Open Championship at Portrush, Lowry has big prizes in mind. He told Allen on Sunday Sport that focusing on his fitness and tournament readiness is a driving factor now too.

"The last couple of years I've definitely put a big emphasis on looking after myself better. I'm trying to prolong my career as long as I can," added Lowry. "I'm 39 next year so I'm not getting any younger and I'd love to have another good five or six years left in me.

"We’ll see what happens. I think I'm very driven. I work harder than I've ever done and I put more into it and I'm getting the rewards.

"Individually I'd love to win just a few more tournaments. I've won seven and I'd like to get the double figures anyway and as soon as I can. I know I'm not far away."

Listen to the full interview here.