Shane Lowry will be looking to win his first individual PGA Tour event since his Open Championship triumph in 2019 at the Cognizant Classic this week.
Lowry is one of the favorites to win the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach this week, with many of the PGA Tour‘s biggest names not in the field.
The Irishman has struggled to get over the line on the PGA Tour over the past few years. He did win the Zurich Classic alongside Rory McIlroy in 2024 but that was a team format competition.
It’s incredible to think that someone as talented as the 38-year-old has not won on the PGA Tour with his own ball for seven years, and he has only managed one victory worldwide during that timespan.
He does have a good record at PGA National, though, and he’ll be confident in his chances of returning to the winners’ circle this week in Florida.
That said, Lowry has admitted he’s not keen on the changes made to the Cognizant Classic course, and suggested he would prefer PGA National to be set up harder than it has been this week.
Shane Lowry on why the best players usually skip the Cognizant Classic
Many of the world’s best players are missing from the Cognizant Classic field this week.
World number 26, Ryan Gerard, is the highest ranked player in the field at PGA National this year.
Meanwhile, Adam Scott withdrew from the Cognizant Classic earlier this week, along with many others including Ben Griffin and Genesis Invitational champion, Jacob Bridgeman.
Lowry responded when asked by reporters on Wednesday why he believes the Cognizant Classic struggles to attract the very best players in the game.
“I’m sure every tournament, bar the Signature Events, don’t get the fields that they’d want,“ Lowry suggested.
“I think it is in a very tough spot in the schedule, probably one of the toughest spots in the schedule, and I don’t think it’s anything to do with the course.
“The reason players don’t play is players don’t want to play that much. It is a tough stretch of golf.
“Riviera can typically play really tough. Bay Hill plays very, very difficult, and then you’ve got The Players. You beat yourself up playing this type of golf.“
Shane Lowry responds to Cognizant Classic future concerns
Lowry was asked whether he’s concerned about the long-term viability of the Cognizant Classic.
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“Do I worry about it? I don’t worry about it because of where it is,“ the Irishman insisted.
“I think it’s a great place to come play golf, and I think — yes, I do wish a lot of other players would play, but that’s their choices, and they have played over the years.
“But I don’t; I don’t really worry about it as a tournament. I think it’s a great tournament, and I’ve always loved it. I’ve always said that. It’s one of my favorites.“
Hopefully Lowry rediscovers his best form this week and manages to get back to winning ways.
He certainly seems to be in the right place mentally. Now it’s up to him to get the job done.
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