Shane Lowry’s week didn’t pan out the way he’d planned and hoped for, but he takes away plenty of good memories from Paris regardless and has a new appreciation for the Olympic Games and Olympic Golf in particular, even if disappointment on a personal level is hard to escape.
“Yeah, look, you’re trying to shoot a really low score, and you start like that, it’s pretty deflating,” he said after a round that began with a double bogey. “I fought back well.
“But you know, ultimately, my damage was done all the first to days. I was going out playing for pride today. I tried my best. It was nice to bounce back, and finish is obviously disappointing enough, but so be it. That’s the way it is.
“You know, I was in Tokyo and obviously is was weird with no crowds and COVID and all that sort of stuff. But I mean, this week it just felt like — it’s felt like one of the biggest tournaments in the world to be honest.
“Obviously, the majors are up there but the atmosphere this week is as good as any major that I’ve played. You just hear the crowds roaring for Victor Perez when I was on the 18th green there, and yeah, it’s been incredible.
“The Irish fans have been unbelievable. Way more support than I thought I would get; way more than I thought I deserved with how I played. They have been incredible and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.
“I suppose for me, Tokyo was weird. I wasn’t in Rio. And then this week, I really felt a part of team Ireland. You know, being at the Opening Ceremony, carrying the flag, being there on Tuesday night for Daniel’s win. So stuff like that has meant a lot to me and I really felt a part of the team this week, and I’m just disappointed that I couldn’t deliver more.”
Lowry’s Irish pride has never been in question and the atmosphere and the Irish support were one of the highlights of the week and helped him to dig deep after the disappointment of the opening hole.
And he’s well aware that with the Olympic Games only coming round every four years, competition will be high to represent Ireland in Los Angeles in 2028, but he’s determined to give it his best shot to don the green for a third time.
“Yeah, and it kept me going today,” he said about representing Ireland. “It’s easy to get down on yourself and not shoot the best score. But I did have a little word for myself. I said, you’re playing for Ireland and you need to show a bit of pride and keep going, and I did. That’s kind of what kept me going today.
“It’s been an incredible week, and I had a lot of time to think about it out there today because it obviously wasn’t going so well. You know, I’m 37 now. I’ll be 41 in L.A. So I’m hoping there’s no young whippersnappers coming up that’s going to pass me up and I’m hoping to go there and fly the flag again.
“There’s obviously so much for us golfers between now and then but yes, it’s at the very top of the list.”
The week over, there’s not much time to reflect as it’s back to the United States for the Wyndham Championship which starts on Thursday, but the memories from Paris will last a lifetime.
“I got to Daniel’s swim and I got Roland Garros,” he said. “It was a long evening. I was like, no, I need to relax and try to perform as good as I can. To be honest, being part of the Olympics and being here for the week, it would make me want to come back as a fan more than anything else. You know, to see even the success Ireland have had so far has been amazing.
“I sort of feel like I can — I’m watching last night on my phone, I’m watching Rhys on the pommel horse, which I know nothing about, and I’m cheering him on and I’m delighted when he finishes. He looks like he’s doing great but not that I know of idea what’s happening. Even feeling part of the team, it’s been so special.
“Look, when I sit back and when I’m on the flight back to America on Tuesday, I’ll reflect on this and I’ll be like, from carrying the flag to coming here to representing my country to the support I got out there, my memories this week, it’s been very special. Just disappointed I couldn’t do better.”
Leave a comment