Shane Lowry would have been forgiven for looking forward to the 2025 season more than most, with the Ryder Cup on the horizon and The Open Championship returning to Royal Portrush.
Shane Lowry has been one of the best players in the world for a number of years now. And he has already shown glimpses of his quality in the opening stages of the new PGA Tour season, finishing second to Rory McIlroy at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Of course, the Irishman will have his sights set on peaking a lot later in the year.
The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush. It was Lowry who lifted the Claret Jug on its previous visit to County Antrim, with the 37-year-old finishing six shots clear of Tommy Fleetwood to secure his first major title.
Shane Lowry compares the Ryder Cup and The Open Championship
Meanwhile, Lowry will be hoping to make his third European Ryder Cup team for Bethpage Black. He was part of the team which was thrashed at Whistling Straits, while he won 1.5 points from his three matches in Rome as Luke Donald‘s men got their revenge for two years earlier.
And speaking to the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, Lowry shared which of the two big wins in his career he enjoyed more.
“[The Ryder Cup is] the most incredible week as a golfer because we are so used to the grind week in, week out on the PGA Tour. You have the DP World Tour where you are on your own, trying to shoot the score yourself, things don’t go well and you are letting yourself down or things go well and you are just mad with yourself. You have your caddie and team around. But even the build up to that week, and what Luke has done is make it a team. Even before the last one, the practice trip and us all hanging out together at Wentworth and Ireland and just the enjoyment of the whole week is incredible,” he said.
“Whistling Straits we got hammered but it was one of the best weeks of my career.
“Then you go to Italy and we did what we did there and that was just incredible. That was I would say the best week. I would say it was more enjoyable than my week in Portrush because I would say you are able to enjoy it more. I would say the week in Portrush was a lot more stressful. Then looking forward to this one, I just hope I am in the team. That’s my big thing but I want to be a part of it and I want to be part of a winning team and to help the team. I think it’s going to be one of the great Ryder Cups of all time and I just hope Europe comes out on top.”
What Shane Lowry expects from Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald ahead of Bethpage
Lowry will not be taking anything for granted, but he will surely be one of the favourites to make the team. He was one of the players who could actually hold his head high after Whistling Straits as he produced a stunning performance on Saturday afternoon in particular.
Obviously, Padraig Harrington had a number of obstacles to deal with that Donald does not have this time around. But Donald will arguably establish himself as Europe’s greatest captain of all-time with a win in New York.
And Lowry has shared what he is already expecting from the Englishman ahead of the event.
“Look, the one thing I think Luke Donald has been a great captain. I have gotten to know Luke, living where I live, we live close to each other and our wives are friends. I think it is going to be one of the best prepared European teams for an away Ryder Cup for some time. I think he will prepare the team as best he can and then it’s up to the 12 players to go and perform and win it for him and everyone else,” he added.
Donald is one of the people involved with Team Europe right now who knows what winning an away Ryder Cup involves – having been on the team at Oakland Hills in 2004 and at Medinah in 2012.
Meanwhile, it cannot be forgotten that his opposite number has never actually got his hands on the gold trophy, home or away.
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