Shane Lowry has revealed that he and his young family will remain in the US at their rented premises on the BallenIsles estate at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida rather than return home to Ireland following the cancellation of the Players Championship and the postponement of the Masters.
Lowry, like all 142 colleagues contesting the PGA Tour’s premier event, was still allowing the decision to cancel the event and the next four on the PGA Tour schedule up to the week prior the Masters sink in as the 2020 season was turned on its head seemingly overnight.
“It all seems a pity what’s transpired since late last night and now with the Masters being postponed,” said Lowry.
“I think the PGA Tour and Augusta is doing the right thing but who knows. All I am looking forward to doing is to take the family back to our house and kind of batten down the hatches.
“It’s good that the Tour has now taken the steps to cancel the events leading up to the Masters as you would not want to regret not taking that action because if someone does contract the virus or whatever you will just have so many regrets.
“Yes, the Players is cancelled. The Masters is postponed but at the end of the day, it is just a sport and an individual’s well-being is more important.
“Though I have to say it’s not looking good for a while to come and it could be months before we get back to competition.”
Much more than simply setting a return date to competition, Lowry was worried for his own family’s welfare back home, quick to put things in perspective for those currently lamenting a depleted sporting calendar.
“I’m thinking also, and I’ve said this before, but my granny is 82. My dad is 60 with a bit of heart problem while my wife’s sister has three kidney transplants and Wendy’s granny is 88 and they are more important than anyone else,” he said.
“I have not been off the phone this morning to everyone back home making sure that no-one goes visiting unless it is really urgent.
“So, I’ll take Wendy and Iris back to the house we have and even though there will be no tournaments for the foreseeable future, we will be better off in Florida and besides, there is plenty of courses where I can play a few social rounds.”
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