Shane Lowry found himself at the centre of the most explosive moment during the 2023 Ryder Cup, when Rory McIlroy had to be restrained during a row with Joe LaCava.
While he was not playing with Rory McIlroy on Saturday evening in Rome, Shane Lowry was one of the first on the scene when tensions boiled over between his teammate and Patrick Cantlay‘s caddie.
And when the drama continued into the car park later on, it was Lowry who hauled McIlroy away and into a vehicle. It is safe to say that the incident fired up the European side, particularly with Cantlay securing Team USA a potentially crucial point.
It also acted as a reminder of how heated the Ryder Cup can get.
Shane Lowry and Tyrrell Hatton suggest how they plan to behave during the Ryder Cup
Certainly, Luke Donald will be desperate for his side to keep their cool over the coming days. Team Europe will have prepared for a hostile reception from the Bethpage crowd.
Speaking to the media ahead of Friday’s opening session, Lowry noted that handling the atmosphere is going to be a real balancing act for the Europeans.
“Yeah, like obviously I’ve thought a lot about it over the last few weeks. I think it is important not to give the crowd too much to cling on to but it’s also important to be yourself. You know, not try to be anyone different. I think what got me here is being myself, and I think I have to be the best version of myself this week,” he said.
“Yeah, if my emotions do come out, it will be a good thing in certain ways. Yeah, I have thought it, and I feel like I’m ready. I feel like I’m ready to deal with anything that’s given to me over the next few days. Yeah, I’m looking forward to it. This is what I practice for. This is what I live for. I’ve wanted this, you know, since we finished on the 18th green in Rome, that evening. This has been one of my goals is to be sitting here.
“Yeah, and my other goal is to be sitting here Sunday evening with the team with the trophy, yeah.”
“I think the New York fans have been great this week so far. Obviously it’s practice days and it’s a little bit more lighthearted. It is what it is. I played an away Ryder Cup and a home Ryder Cup, and I’m pretty sure Rome wasn’t much fun for the Americans, either,” he went on to add.
“You know, I think you have to be yourself, do your own thing, try and use it as best you can. You know, allow it to help you as opposed to let it hinder you. I think we are all ready for it and we are all mentally prepared for it. We’ll see.”
Interestingly, Tyrrell Hatton has taken a different approach to Lowry in the build-up to this Ryder Cup. However, when asked about the fans, the LIV Golf star suggested that he will also avoid overthinking how he acts out on the course.
“I don’t know, it’s hard to say until you’re put in that position. Ultimately, I would just try and be true to myself and try and react in a way that is hopefully the right way to do it,” he said.
“But yeah, I haven’t really thought about that too much to be honest.”
Shane Lowry outlines where playing in the Ryder Cup ranks in his career
Lowry appeared to be a lock to make the team after a strong start to the PGA Tour season. He finished second at both the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Truist Championship.
He also impressed at The Masters until the latter stages of the third round.
Nevertheless, he faced a slightly nervy wait to find out if he would be on Donald’s team after Rasmus Hojgaard snatched an automatic qualification spot from his grasp. Lowry admitted that it was strange to hope for Hojgaard to slip up.
And ahead of the Ryder Cup’s opening session, the 38-year-old conceded that the desire to make the team may not have always helped him.
“Like it’s just a big deal for me. Like I am who I am. Like I said it there, I have to be myself. I am who I am. This is what I live for. This is what I play golf for now,” he said.
“I don’t not care about anything else, but it’s like, literally, this is it, this is what I play for. As soon as we finish here Sunday evening I’ll be thinking about Adare Manor.
“It’s just who I am. I’ve been around a long time in the game. I feel like I’ve achieved a certain amount of stuff that I’ve really been lucky to achieve, and I’d put this up there. You know, a win this week would be up there with all of that.
“Then obviously to compete in Adare Manor, as well, would be incredible. Like I do build it up a lot. It might get in the way a little at the odd time at certain events. I think I’m mature enough and I’m good enough at keeping it sort of — yes, wanting it a lot, but then keeping it in the back of my mind as well.”
Lowry has played three matches in each of his previous two Ryder Cup appearances. And it would be no surprise to see Donald take a similar approach this time around.
But if he can prove that he can thrive in the cauldron when he gets his opportunity, Lowry is potentially the kind of competitor who could force his captain into a rethink.
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