Ambitious Shane Lowry lays down a marker for 2010
"I'VE never thought about not making it as a professional. I've always felt I was good enough."
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."
Lowry has had to transform his life to follow his dream and singles out the long hauls flights and the time difference adjustments as two of the biggest challenges.
"When I'm at home it's not really that different but when I'm away playing it is a huge change. It's hard to explain, everything is so much harder. The long haul flights, the standard of golf and the courses are tougher. The travelling has to be done because it is part of the job. Getting used to the time difference is tough but it's the same for everyone.
"When you have an eight hour time difference you find yourself waking up at three in the morning wide awake and then find yourself shattered by five in the evening."
Tough and all as it is, Shane's Management Company have made everything as smooth as possible and they play a huge hand in his career by allowing him to concentrate fully on his golf.
Lowry praised Horizon Sports Management by saying, "There is so much stuff to be done and I wouldn't be able to do it without a Management Company. The small things like booking flights, accommodation and negotiating sponsorship deals. If I need anything I just ring them. They have a girl in the office sorting all that and she just emails me my Itinerary."
Sponsorship is a main club in any professional golfer's bag. The manner in which he won the '3' Irish Open certainly helped the 23 year old. Mobile phone operators '3' were quick to come on board as they were the main sponsors of the competition.
"It's a great tournament and some people say they saved the Irish Open. They got great coverage out of it as well. I also have Teligence, Audi, Titleist and Esker Hills. I needed a new car and Audi were involved with the Irish Open as well so we managed to make a deal. I'll have to do a couple of company days and I have the Audi badge on my golf bag."
Do signs of regret linger about his absence from a Walker Cup team?
"Definitely not. The experience I'm after getting in the last six months has been priceless. Everything about it. The way to go about things and every part of my game is after improving because I am out there every week using the best facilities in the world."
Standing now as the 135th ranked Golfer in the world, Lowry has made steady progress as after the '3' Irish Open victory he stood at 168th. He needs back up in various forms. Financial, emotional and just as important mental.
Golfing enthusiasts will know the importance of a caddy but for those of you who don't claim to be an enthusiast, a caddy is another vital cog. Often a players Caddy is the only other person with the Golfer at a particular competition.
It is vital to be comfortable with your caddy as well as the caddy himself having sound knowledge of both the course in question and its surroundings.
Dubliner Dermot Byrne is the caddy in question. A vastly experienced caddy, Byrne has served Peter Lawrie for the past five years before joining forces with the Clara Powerhouse.
"Myself and Dermot get on really well together. We have formed a great friendship as well and I spend a lot of time with him off the course even though people say I shouldn't. We go for dinner a lot in the evenings and its great having him there. He has been there on the scene for so many years."
Byrne replaced Lowry's close personal friend David Reynolds as his caddy and with Reynolds been there by his side right up through the amateur ranks and during the Irish Open it was a huge decision for Lowry to make in replacing him.
"Parting company with David was the hardest thing I've had to do because he was such a good friend and was really good to me over the two years he caddied for me but I had long discussions with my Management Company and my parents and in the end I didn't want to do it but I knew I had to. I had to get selfish about it and think of my career and make the best decision for me at the time."
Family, girlfriend and friends have had to take a back seat at times but this is part and parcel of the game. It's the same for every player and it is a factor that all close to Shane fully understand. It helps to have such good friends on tour and although there are times when home beckons strongly he knows what his job is and he gets on with it like the professional that he is.
He admits it's hard to keep in contact with everyone but he tries his best. "We don't get to see a lot of family and friends but I try to keep in contact with as many as possible. On the Tour you're playing with the same 150 lads every week. Its great craic out there and I get on well with everyone.
"I get on really well with Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Gary Murphy and I was delighted when he got his tour card for next year. In particular, I get on fierce well with Gary Murphy. He looked after me when I was out there at the start."
Lowry's last stint in 2009 came in Asia as he put four weeks back to back. He admits to been extremely home sick coming near the start of the 4th week but with the support he got from back home and with a strong mental edge, he got the grit between his teeth and ended up with his best finish as a professional in Japan at the Dunlop Phoenix Open. He closed off 2009 with a steady 3rd place finish and a nice purse of €89,000.
A huge statement to finish off the year and to carry him forward to the opening tournament of the 2010 season which actually starts this week December 10 in South Africa.
In his own words, Shane described his Japanese experience.
"After I missed the cut in Hong Kong all I wanted to do was go home but I just said to myself in Japan, just one more week, just give it lash. It's funny though, after about two days of being home all you want to do is go again because of the rain and to be honest that's one of the main reasons I'm heading to South Africa this week.
"Japan was my best finish yet. It gives me great confidence and I was actually un-lucky. I played the last four holes extremely well and didn't hit a bad shot. I could have shot them in -4 but ended up only shooting them in -1. It gives me great confidence that if I am going down the last stretch in a tournament, I know that I am up for it."
2010 now lies in wait for the latest Irish starlet to attack the world stage and the ever chirpy young man wasted little time in outlining his aims for the year ahead.
"My main aim starting out in 2010 would be to make the race of Dubai. I'd like to play in a major and ultimately I'd like to get in to the top 100 in the world. I'm just going to go out in the next few months and try to get in contention coming into the back 9 on a Sunday.
"If you can get within three shots of a lead on the back 9 of a Sunday all of a sudden you are in with a shout. Shoot -4 on the back 9 and you are going to be there or thereabouts."
Another huge incentive for 2010 is the prospect of defending his '3' Irish Open Title. 2010 will see a new location as well as a new date on the calendar.
Killarney on the August Bank Holiday weekend will be the scene and it is sure to draw a huge crowd with the midland counties expected to travel in their numbers in support of Shane as they did only last May up in the wind and rain swept Baltray.
The rollercoaster has stopped briefly but it won't be long until Shane Lowry is back travelling the globe doing what he does best. He has no fear of what lies ahead and he certainly has confidence to burn.
Could 2010 turn out to be Shane Lowry's year? One thing he won't be lacking is the drive and desire to be up there mixing it with the best.
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