BY looking at his swagger and his confident demeanour you would think Shane Lowry was a seasoned pro of 13 years and not just the 13 months that he has actually been playing golf at the highest level.
Shane Lowry tells Brian Lowry that he will face into his defence of the 3 Irish Open as he does every tournament.A hugely confident man even while in the amateur ranks, Lowry finds himself firmly in the spotlight this week as he tees up to defend his '3' Irish Open title which he won so majestically last year in wet and windy conditions Baltray.
It's been a topsy turvy 13 months for the Esker Hills' clubman but since the start of the 2010 season, Lowry has looked the real deal with numerous top 20 finishes.
He played in his first major at the British Open two weeks ago and his strong showing has guaranteed his entry in to the USPGA in Wisconsin next month in the last major of the year.
Speaking about his first major experience, the 23 year old commented, "It was a good week. I had a great chance on the Sunday to move right up the world rankings and up the order of merit but I played the last six holes poorly and that cost me quite a bit in world ranking points. I played three and a half good rounds and I felt like I handled myself pretty well.
"I fancied myself around there with the conditions been a bit tougher. I played very sensible golf at St Andrew's which is actually very unlike me. I normally will go for pretty much everything but I played par golf and it worked for three and a half rounds. The few bogies and double bogey on 17 on the Sunday cost me".
His attention is now firmly switched to the '3' Irish Open in Killarney which gets underway tomorrow and Lowry admits it will be hard to try and keep preparations normal.
"It will be hard but I'm not going to spend too much time around the golf course. I have a house rented a good bit outside the town. I'll have a few people staying with me. I'll keep a low profile next week.
"I'm trying my best to stay away from it. I have to treat it as any other week or else I won't do well. I have a routine before tournaments and I'll be sticking to it.
"Whatever happens I'll be on the first tee on Thursday ready for action and as prepared as I can be. I'll be standing on the first tee on Thursday morning and once it's just me inside the ropes; it's just me and the golf course like any other week. I know there will be a big crowd down there and it will be different to what I'm used to".
For the full interview plus a two page preview of the 3 Irish Open, see this week's Offaly Express.Keep right up to date with Shane's progress throughout the next coming days right here on the Offaly Express website or on facebook.
