Seasoned Irish golfer, Shane Lowry, has his sights firmly set on securing a spot in this year’s Ryder Cup team, and it’s clear he’s not taking this ambition lightly. Lowry kicked off his season with a strong start, and it’s evident that his performances in the upcoming Majors are going to be a significant source of motivation for him.
At 37, Lowry has raked in a wealth of experience under his belt, and this year, he is particularly focused on The Open, slated to be played at Royal Portrush. Interestingly, this isn’t his first rodeo on this course. Six years ago, Lowry achieved a significant triumph at the US Open held on the same greens.
Furthermore, he’s also set his sights on the US Open at Oakmont, a course where he showed solid prowess nine years ago, although he narrowly missed out on the top spot. Lowry seems undeterred by the past and is eager to illustrate his golfing acumen once again on these familiar terrains.
Lowry, however, didn’t mince words when it came to his feelings about Quail Hollow, where the PGA Championship is scheduled. Despite the course’s prestige, Lowry admitted, in an interview with Sky Sports, that he harbors no affection for it. He said, “Three out of four major venues this year I love,” adding candidly, “I don’t even have a love-hate for Quail Hollow, it’s just a pure hatred for it! I’ve never had a good result there.”
Reflecting on his past performance at Oakmont, Lowry expressed a sense of optimism and confidence about the forthcoming US Open. He said, “Going back to Oakmont, it’s a course that I felt like I should have won the US Open that year.” He went on to acknowledge that despite falling short of his ambitions, the experience served as a learning opportunity, which he leveraged in his play at Portrush.
Lowry is a firm believer in consistency being the cornerstone of success, particularly in high-stake tournaments like the Majors and the Ryder Cup. He emphasized his penchant for the pressure that accompanies such competitive arenas, noting his record of several noteworthy outcomes at the Majors. With this mindset, it’s clear that Lowry is fully prepared to embrace the challenges that lie ahead in the season.