Shane Lowry says he probably put too much pressure on himself to make the European Ryder Cup team but is confident he can bring his A game to Rome and help Europe win the cup back at the end of the month.
Lowry was one of Luke Donald’s six wildcard selections for the contest in Marco Simone and while he admits his form hasn’t been the best this year he is ready to play golf fitting to his tag of the man for a big occasion.
“Look, I’m very confident in my own ability, and I know what I can bring. I think Luke knows that, as well. I’m very happy to be in the team. I think we have a very good team this year. I think we have a very strong team, and I’m very excited for Rome,” said Lowry who will be making his first appearance in a home Ryder Cup having impressed in Whistling Straits two years ago.
“I mean, my form probably has not been the greatest, but some of the bigger events I’ve played some of my best golf, and I think that’s where I like — there’s nothing bigger than the Ryder Cup, and hopefully I can go to Rome and show people what I’m made of.
“I definitely said at the start of the year, my big thing was to not only make the team, but winning the Ryder Cup this year was one of my main goals, and I probably put too much pressure on myself.”
The Offaly man was speaking ahead of the Horizon Irish Open at the K Club as he begins a busy month of competitive golf which includes a return to Wentworth to defend his BMW PGA Championship title.
“As I said to somebody earlier, it’s an amazing month to have ahead of you, to be honest. Obviously this week is our fifth major, and it really is a — I do treat it like that, and then we have obviously I’m defending at Wentworth, which is one of my favourite events, next week, and then buildup for the Ryder Cup the week after that. Yeah, it’s kind of dream stuff and something that I’m looking forward to the challenge the next few weeks, and very excited for what it could bring.”
Lowry was picked alongside Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Sepp Straka, Nicolai Hojgaard and Swedish sensation Ludvig Aberg. Aberg secured the sixth and final pick after winning in Switzerland last weekend at the expense of the extremely unfortunate defending Irish Open champion, Adrian Meronk.
While he feels for Meronk, Lowry says Aberg’s current form was too good to ignore.
“I think he’s playing with a lot of confidence at the minute, so I think he’ll be okay. I think Ludvig — I’ve not played with him or seen him shots, and obviously I watched last weekend. I think Ludvig is probably going to play in the next six or seven Ryder Cups, so this is a good one to start with in Rome with a very strong team. I think he’ll fit into the team nicely.
“He drives the ball incredibly well, which is what you need around that golf course, and I think he’s a great fit for the team.
“Look, he’s never played a major, but he’s played, like you said, a lot of PGA Tour events and never missed a cut, not even close to missing a cut. He’s been very solid since he turned pro, and statistically he’s one of the best players on the European side at the minute. I don’t see any reason for him not to pick him.”
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