After an incredibly consistent season, Shane Lowry has been entrusted by team Captain Padraig Harrington to go and help Europe win the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.
Lowry was picked by Harrington along with two Ryder Cup stalwarts in Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia to complete Europe’s 12-man team set to take on the USA in Wisconsin from September 24-26.
For a long time, Lowry had occupied the automatic ninth qualifying spot on the team table but after being ousted on Sunday at Wentworth by Bernd Wiesberger, his fate lay in good friend Harrington’s hands. In the end, it was an easy decision for the Captain.
“It was an easy pick based on his form,” Harrington told Nick Dougherty on Sky Sports Golf.
“Can you imagine playing under that stress all summer – being that guy that people are talking about? He definitely delivered for me and he definitely delivered for all the vice-captains and with the stats, he lines up well. He’s going to bring enthusiasm into the team. We only have three rookies so we need the young guys in there and the enthusiasm they can bring and as I said to Shane, we are going to enjoy the week with him.”
Lowry faced an anxious wait after closing out his BMW PGA Championship bid with a round of 71 for a share of 17th place, nine spots short of the top-8 result that would’ve sealed his place in the team. So how was news delivered to the 34-year old Clara star that a Ryder Cup debut would be upcoming in two weeks’ time in America?
“I was sitting in the players’ lounge with my dad and a couple of friends and everyone was getting a bit nervous and a bit antsy – there were people calling me and stuff like that,” Lowry said, unable to wipe the smile from his face.
“But I was called into the Principal’s office and he just gave me a hug and said congrats. We had a little conversation and it was obviously very special. Very special moment to have my dad here – I’ve got a great picture of the two of us when we both found out so that’s pretty cool to have.”
Lowry will be one of three rookies in the European team room alongside fellow first-timers Wiesberger and Viktor Hovland though far from going over there to tick a Ryder Cup appearance off his list of career goals, he’s now eyeing a winning debut at Whistling Straits.
“This is going to be a very special week in my career and I just hope that I can go there and win some points for Europe and we can win the Cup,” he said.
“There’s no point going over there just to make up numbers. You want to go over there and win. I’ve said that all year. I obviously want to make the team but I want to go and win as well. I don’t want to go to say I’ve played in the Ryder Cup. I want to make it count.”
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