Shane Lowry may not have pulled off the Race to Dubai No. 1 crown but he’ll arrive home to reap the rewards of a Major winning season at a host of award ceremonies.
Lowry ended the most-successful campaign of his 10th full season in the pro ranks posting a closing round 70 for a share of 12th place at seven-under par in DP World Tour Championship.
Reigning Dubai Duty Free Irish Open winner, Jon Rahm holed a short 72nd hole birdie in a score of 68 for a 19-under par tally to win the final event of the European Tour season for a second time in three years.
The powerhouse Spaniard did the same earlier this year in capturing a second Irish Open title at Lahinch, two years after winning at Portstewart.
In the process, Rahm ended the year also as European Tour No. 1 to earn a $US3m (€2.7m) first prize cheque, the richest ever in golf, while the soon-to-be married golfer also pockets a $US2m bonus pool prize.
Rahm was asked what he was going to do with $US5m (€4.536m).
“I’m not going to lie and as I just turned 25, it’s unbelievable that I’m going to have that much coming my way,” he said.
“But a lot of that is well deserved to people that helped me get here, right. I have a great team around me that’s helped me get here, so a lot of that is obviously going to go to them as well.
“I also have a long life to live, so hopefully put in a savings account and not need it ever, and keep playing good, but at the same time keep helping the ones who need.
“I know my family will never worry about having problems again. Nothing extravagant, honestly. I’m not like that. Last time I thought I was making a big purchase and that was buying an ‘Xbox’”.
Lowry collected a €86,355 pay-out to see him end the European Tour year fourth on the Race to Dubai with a combined €3.813m in prize-money.
His closing round of a career-best season was a mix of five birdies and one less bogey with Lowry looking back to Thursday’s opening 73 in not playing a bigger part in the weekend proceedings.
“It’s been an okay week and I look back to a pretty bad start on Thursday but then sometimes in this game you just have it and other days, you don’t,” he said.
“It means you have to play with what you have but this week I just didn’t have it.
“Overall, I am happy enough and yes, it would have been nice to win the Race to Dubai but it what it is now and I am happy enough.”
With Austrian Bernd Wiesberger failing in not ending a three-tournament winning season as European No. 1, the door is now very much open for Lowry to reap the end-of-season sports awards. They should include:
RTE Sports Star of the Year
European Tour ‘Golfer of the Year’
Irish Golf Writers ‘Golfer of the Year’ (Confirmed)
Association of Golf Writers ‘Golfer of the Year’.
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