Another milestone for confident Lowry

Philip Reidtalks to the Irish Open champion who is looking forward to bringing his links expertise to a major

IN JUST over a year as a tour professional, which has taken him on an odyssey criss-crossing time zones from Japan to the Middle East to Europe and the United States, Shane Lowry’s fledgling career has been one of perpetual motion which has maintained an upward graph.

This week, it takes on a new meaning. Now up to 88th in the official world rankings, Lowry – who has played in 36 events around the world as a pro since that life-changing win as an amateur in last year’s Irish Open – moves into new territory when he competes in his first major. It’s sure to be the first of many, as his elevated world rankings is also set to earn him a ticket into next month’s US PGA at Whistling Straits. That’s then, this is now.

Yesterday, with coach Neil Manchip in tow, the 23-year-old Offaly man continued his preparations for the British Open with his first full 18 holes of practice. He’d arrived here on Sunday night, driving up after his top-10 finish in the Scottish Open, and limited his play to just 11 holes on Monday where he played with and picked the brain of two-time Open champion Pádraig Harrington.

For yesterday’s session, he opted for a more solitary strategy. Just himself, playing the links with just his caddie and coach for company. His way.

Since topping the qualifying at Sunningdale to earn his place in the field here, Lowry’s confidence has improved. In the JP McManus Invitational at Adare last week he was the only player not to shoot an over-par round – in finishing third – while he finished with three birdies in his closing six holes to secure a top-10 finish in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond on Sunday.

“I feel like it was overdue, to be honest, the way I’ve been playing,” said Lowry of that second top-10 of the season. “It is great to get rewarded for the hard work I’ve done. Hopefully, it will keep going on.”

The key to Lowry’s improved form is his putting – and confidence!

“Ever since qualifying for this, something just clicked. I managed to start holing a few putts and I’ve managed to just keep doing that. I’m really looking forward to this. The more you see the course, the more birdie chances you see . . . . if you take the tight line off the tee, it can reward you and give you more chances.”

Lowry’s only previous competitive round here came in last October’s Dunhill Links – when he missed the cut – but there are feel-good vibes associated with links golf throughout his amateur career, most pointedly the Irish Open win at Baltray. “I know it’s a major and it is an Open here at St Andrews, but I am just trying to treat it as I do any other tournament. To prepare as good as a I can, and see what happens come Sunday.

“With links golf, you need to visualise your shots and hopefully it will all come back to me this week. For example, the little shots from 50 yards out. You have to see them differently than you normally would. Usually it is straight out with the lob wedge, but not here.”

This is another milestone for Lowry as he proves the decision to turn pro after that Irish Open win was the right one.

Playing in majors is where he believes he belongs. Contending in them is the next step.