There’s no Shane in it but drop in rankings is concerning
I also believe he has the game and ability to be a major champion. But to do all that, he has to get back to basics. He has to find the flow and focus that helped him become a top 20 player two years ago. Lowry – who was ranked 17th in the world as recently as November 2015 - has fallen to 86th. That’s a concern. He needs to stop the slide because as things stand he’s not guaranteed the freedom to pick and choose where he plays next season. Shane will be disappointed with his recent form in the States and missing out on the Fedex Cup play-offs will have been tough to process. His 127th placed finish on the PGA Tour left him with plenty to ponder. But he still has plenty to play for on the European Tour and this week’s return to the Portugal Masters – the scene of his first win as a pro in 2012 – can only help. Shane’s one stroke win over Ross Fisher five years ago was both brilliant and nerve wracking. But then the Clara golfer has always had the ability to inject drama into the leaderboard when he’s in contention. Hopefully he plays a central role this week, although he returns to Portugal on a downer and in desperate need of a catalyst. The upside is he’s back on familiar ground and knows what’s up for grabs on European soil. Currently ranked 77th on the Race to Dubai, Lowry still has gold to chase, but he needs a strong end to the year to alter the mood. He has carved out a fine career for himself since winning the Irish Open as an amateur in 2009, but needs to arrest the recent decline. The Ryder Cup should be on his radar. Majors too, and multiple wins. There’s no doubt missing out on the US Open 15 months ago had a dispiriting affect, but Shane has to focus on the positives. He has a skill set the envy of other players and boasts a carefree attitude to life, but it’s crucial he adopts a siege mentality to get his career back on track. He will embark on a full PGA Tour season next year and that will be a challenge. How he finishes out this year will be key. He needs to return the winner’s enclosure or at least show some forward momentum to get back in the groove. It’s all there for Lowry – but he must start delivering. Golf is a fickle business and embracing the hard times is often the key to success. Shane has to rise to the challenge in the weeks ahead.