Shane Lowry may not have the wins that his career deserves, that may change. But there is no doubt that over the last decade he has produced more grandstand moments than most.
Some people are just made for the big stage and Lowry is top of the list. Whether it’s in normal tournament play or at the Ryder Cup you know he is always capable of something.
If Lowry’s career was to end today he would have under his belt wins at a World Golf Championship (2015) a HSBC event in Abu Dhabi (2019) an Open Championship victory on home soil in Portrush (2019), a BMW PGA Championship (2022) and a famous Irish Open win in biblical conditions at Baltray as an amateur (2009). Add to that a win at the Portugal Masters and victory alongside Rory McIlroy last year at the Zurich Classic.
Sure, he would like to sacrifice his remarkable consistency for a better spread of victories, but when they do come they are certainly not your usual run of the mill titles.
If the above wasn’t bucket list enough, on Monday night Lowry completed a famous trinity of holes in one after making an ace in the opening round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Lowry holed a 54-degree wedge at Pebble Beach’s iconic 113-yard par-3 7th hole for his fourth career ace overall but third on the PGA Tour.
It’s quite the USA hat trick considering his previous two holes in one came at the 16th at Augusta National in the 2016 Masters and at the iconic par-3 17th at TPC Sawgrass.
As ever, Lowry could not hide his delight, expressing the overjoyed emotion that makes it impossible not to feel elated for the Offaly man.
Augusta, Sawgrass, Pebble Beach, beat that!
Thursday proved a famous day for Irish golf as Lowry matched his close friend McIlroy who had earlier slam dunked his ball into the hole on the par-3 15th at Spyglass Hill for a hole in one too.
“Mine is definitely better,” Lowry laughed.
The pair got the beers in and enjoyed a quiet drink without getting out of control, knowing they are bang in contention for the first Signature Event of the season.
“Yeah, it’s pretty cool,” Lowry told Sky Sports. “It’s a school night for me.”
“I think Pebble is one of the most amazing places in the world, and to do something like that and have those memories is pretty cool.”
Asked which of his three aces was better, he could not provide an answer.
“Oh, God, that’s like asking someone which one’s their favourite child,” Lowry said with a grin. “…hopefully I can kick on now and have a good rest of the tournament, a good rest of the week.”
Surely a hole in one at the 12th at Augusta would complete a Mount Rushmore of aces.
“I was going to say 12 at Augusta, but I’m just happy with pars on that hole. Yeah, look, I don’t know. Anytime any one goes in is a good time,” said Lowry.
Memories to last a lifetime for sure but certainly if Lowry were not to win again in his career his highlight reel would be up there with the best in the world.
But he will win again and no doubt it will be on the big stage.
“For me, it’s about the four big ones and then the Ryder Cup,” he said. “It’s about playing as good as I can on weeks like this, and build towards April to Augusta.
“Ultimately, if I’m standing on the 18th green at Bethpage at the end of the year with the Ryder Cup, I think I’ll be pretty happy.”
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