Irish Golf's newest star talks to Brian Lowry


Reel back to January 2008. Almost two years ago on an edition of OB Sport, a feature was put together signalling the future talent that lies ahead in Irish Golf.

The turn came for Shane Lowry to take to the screen and during the interview, reporter Shane O'Donoughue asked him, "Where do you see yourself in five years time?" to which the young cub responded "Out on the Tour taking on the Tiger."

So three years ahead of schedule, Shane Lowry is indeed, well and truly on the tour. On Sunday, May 17 at approximately 5.15pm, a nation held its breath. A four foot putt on the 3rd play-off hole stood between Lowry and a new life. Nailed it. Baltray and the rest of the Country went into spasm.

The scenes on the 18th green as Shane Lowry collected the '3' Irish Open trophy will go down as one the top moments in the history of Irish sport.

2009 will undoubtedly go down as the best year in the Clara man's life to date. Having started the year with strong ambitions to play in the amateur version of the Ryder Cup; the Walker Cup, Lowry blew that ambition out of the water as early as May as he made the no-brainer switch to the professional ranks.

Since his switch to the big league, Lowry has fully justified his inclusion on the tour. Having struggled to find his feet in his opening couple of Tournaments, he finished the 2009 year with over €200,000 in prize money after just six months of competition. Just as important as the money, the Esker Hills clubman has gained unrivalled experience as he gears up for 2010 and his first full year on the tour.

So the question has to be asked. How did he actually go from wanting to play Walker Cup so badly to embarking on a life changing experience? The answer has its fair share of faith in it.

"I remember been in between minds whether to play in the Irish Open or the Brabazon Trophy which is the English Amateur Open and a major event on the amateur circuit. I was thinking if I played the Irish Open and missed the cut it would look bad. I remember sitting in the girlfriend's house one evening and I just said what the hell I'll play the Irish Open.

"So I said I'd ring Kevin Flanagan who was the Irish Captain at the time the next day. That same night I drove down to Scally's shop in Tullamore and who did I meet in the car park only Kevin Flanagan. He was passing through Tullamore, so I said to him any chance of an invite to the Irish Open and he said no problem."

The decision was made and without any great fuss, Lowry and then caddy David Reynolds made their way up the M50 to Baltray not knowing that he would pass back through it on the Sunday a national hero.

We all know by now the run of events at Baltray and even talking about it now the hard hitting Clara man still finds it hard to find the words to describe the feeling.

"The whole week was just a great week. We rented a house and I remember seven of us stayed there one night and it was only a two bedroom house. We had good craic. I don't know how I felt that week. I didn't feel out of place or anything.

"It was weird, I went in doing press conferences which I never did before but I didn't feel out of place when I should have been looking around me pinching myself. I never saw anything like the crowds and I probably won't again. It was one of those moments in sport."

The euphoria was about to set in. He made his way home to his native Clara to blockbuster crowds and again the following night at his second home, Esker Hills. It continued all week with the now national star in high demand.

"Everywhere I went, it was mad. I got great support and I suppose I put a smile on everyone's face for a while anyway. I remember I went down to Galway the weekend after the Irish Open with Deirdre and I could barely walk down the street."