Rory McIlroy had 'heart-to-heart' chats with Shane Lowry during difficult season

Shane Lowry saw leads to slip in the Dubai Invitational and the Cognizant Classic earlier this year. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Rory McIlroy believes that Shane Lowry's closing 63 at the Irish Open can help his friend overcomes the final-round struggles that have cost him this season. 

Lowry saw leads to slip in the Dubai Invitational and the Cognizant Classic earlier this year but surged away from the field at Doonbeg to win by 11 shots. McIlroy said he and Lowry have had some "heart-to-hearts" about those near misses.

"He is that calibre of a player we all know he is," said McIlroy. 

"It was just a matter of him getting back to that point and winning a tournament. I think him finishing it off in emphatic style the way he did, I think it will do a lot for him, and it will hopefully do a lot for him with how he approaches final rounds going forward because I think he would admit himself that final rounds have been a struggle over the last couple years for him.

"But I think for him to go out, shoot 63 on the final day leading your national Open with all that crowd support behind you, he really went out there, and he grabbed the tournament by the throat and made it his. It was amazing to see.

"He alluded to it on Sunday night as well. He's had some hard times this year, and we've had some chats and heart-to-hearts about it. All I can try to be is a good friend and provide encouragement and maybe provide examples of what I've tried to do in those circumstances."

Lowry and McIlroy will both be in action at Wentworth this week for the BMW PGA Championship. Both have won the tournament, McIlroy in 2014 and Lowry in 2022 when it was shortened to three rounds following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. It is a particularly enjoyable competition for McIlroy as his summer home is on the Wentworth Estate, making this one of his favourite weeks.

"I joke to Shane all the time that if the tournament in 2022 was four rounds, I would have got him," said McIlroy.

"I've enjoyed a lot of good golf here and some success, but I'd love to get another win around here for sure."

McIlroy also said that he would love to finish his career on the European Tour. 

"I'd love to envision a day like that," he said, "but to keep hold of your PGA TOUR membership, you need to play a certain number of events. Obviously the fields are deep, and you have to make sure you stay within that top 70 or 90 or whatever it is.

"One day maybe. One day that would be really, really nice and finish my career where I started my career. That would be something that I would love to do. 

"But right now while I'm in the sort of thick of things and what I feel is like still the prime, I'm just going to have to try to split my time as best as I can between the two."