STRAIT TALKER
Lowry: There will be guys gunning for me but I’m in a great position to make my first appearance at the Ryder Cup
SHANE LOWRY is loving this mad spell in his life.
The Irishman is not about to have his fun ended by being stuck in the house watching the Ryder Cup on TV.
Lowry has just become a dad for the second time while R&A chiefs last night confirmed he’ll be heading back to Royal Portrush in 2025 for The Open following the 2019 staging on his home soil.
There’s also the small matter of a clash with the United States looming at Whistling Straits and a debut in the Ryder Cup.
Right now Lowry’s spot in the side is not set in stone. The 34-year-old is currently in the qualifying places to make the 12-man line-up but berths are still up for grabs.
Various permutations could still see Lowry lose his position by Sunday’s finale of the BMW PGA Championship.
That would leave him needing a wildcard pick from captain Padraig Harrington.
But Lowry aims to make that worry irrelevant by doing the damage at Wentworth to secure his spot.
He said: “There are probably a few people gunning for me this week but I’m in a great position. I’ve worked very hard this year to get there.
“I’ve spent the last five, six years trying to make a Ryder Cup team.
“I feel like I’ve got a great opportunity this week and I’m looking forward to going out and trying to do it.
“It will be interesting to see how it all plays out but, to go back to the old golf cliches, I can only look after myself and one shot at a time.
“Wentworth is one of the places I like to play, so hopefully I can go out and perform.”
Lowry sat on the only cloud
in the Surrey sky as he spoke after good lady Wendy last week gave birth to new daughter Ivy.
The 34-year-old laughed and said: “It wasn’t very good timing, was it?
‘It was the week of the Tour Championship!
“Obviously it’s amazing, far bigger than any tournament, any result you’ll ever have or anything you’ll ever do.
“It’s been amazing and everyone is great at home.
‘I’m so grateful and thankful for all that. I actually still can’t believe I have two kids. It’s mad but it’s great. It’s tough leaving them this week and being here. But I have a job to do.”
Confirmation for Portrush in four years’ time was another boost for the man who led The Open field a merry dance at the venue two years ago.
He added: “It’s great it’s going back quickly.
“Obviously in my very biased opinion, it’s one of the best Opens I’ve played in!
“But taking the win out of it, I think anybody you talked to, the American players and the other players who played, they really enjoyed the venue.
“They thought it was one of the great Opens that they played. I don’t have to worry about being in it or not. I’ll be there and it’s exciting for the people in Portrush and Ireland that we are going back.”
First stop after Wentworth, though, has to be Wisconsin and Whistling Straits. That’s the No.1 target right now.
Lowry would probably get the nod from Harrington even if he does miss out on the automatic picks but there’s nothing to be taken for granted.
He said: “I’ll have a close eye on it all week. I know what’s happening and what’s going on.
“There are a lot of guys who have a chance this week. I’m one of them. I just need to go out and play my best.
“If I just keep doing what I’m doing, I think I’ll be fine.
“I’ve said it all year, there’s been a lot of Ryder Cup talk and I’ve not shied away from talking about it.
“So I’ll just look after myself, keep doing what I’m doing and I think I’ll be fine.
“Obviously myself and Padraig have a very good friendship and, yes, I have spoken to him a little bit over the last while.
“But not about partnerships or relationships or anything like that. I’m sure he’s waiting to finalise a team before he starts talking about it to his players.
“I’m sure he’s spoken to guys who are already on the team about stuff like that.”
Lowry would be a rookie if he’s in the side but that tag didn’t stop compatriot Leona Maguire shining for Europe in her side’s Solheim Cup success over the Americans in Ohio this week.
He said: “Leona literally had the dream week, didn’t she?
“She won the Solheim Cup for Europe and I’d give anything to have the opportunity to go and do that myself in a couple of weeks.”