Even bigger weekend for Lowry family: Shane welcomes new nephew!

GOLF hero Shane Lowry's newest nephew was named after the man who gave his name to the Ryder Cup even before the Offaly star holed the putt which retained the famous trophy for Europe.

Speaking to Ray D'Arcy on RTE Radio 1, Shane's father Brendan revealed what happened on Sunday morning.

His daughter-in-law Amy, wife of Shane's brother Alan (pictured below at an Offaly football match in 2021 with Shane), was admitted to Holles Street hospital in Dublin to give birth.

“She's mad into golf,” said Brendan so she was following the Ryder Cup on television.

Then the baby arrived. “They called him Freddie Sam, Sam after Sam Ryder, and that was yesterday morning, before Shane done what he done. It was crazy.”

The Offaly All-Ireland football hero also said the GAA probably influenced Shane's golfing career, particularly for a team competition like the Ryder Cup.

“He loves that team environment. But then that's probably part of the GAA that I was brought up with. He probably played underage in that team environment and then even with the GUI, Golf Ireland, they had teams, interprovincial teams, Leinster and the four provinces so he just likes that a lot. He just loves that Ryder Cup, he loves it.”

Brendan also disclosed that parents of the players had been warned that the USA fans might be hostile.

“The parents' families got a briefing about the whole thing before, last Thursday evening. Just to get us to make sure to stay calm because you're going to get abuse. It was hard now, it was tough to stay calm.”

He said the abuse levelled by some Americans was “very, very, very bad” and it could be due to the type of supporters who went to the tournament.

“Seemingly, some of these guys just go to football matches and hockey matches. They just do the same [at them].”

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Shane's father also told the radio presenter that his son was not sure he had even holed the decisive putt.

“I was just at the side of the green. Praying, on my hands and knees. You're just hoping that it works out for him. Like every parent with their kids, they just want them to do their best and he just done that... which was unbelievable.”

He added that he had a brief word with Shane on the course immediately afterwards and the golfer said: “He said to me 'Da, I was sure I missed it!' He was sure it was going to lip out.”

Shane's sister Sinead was also in New York for the Ryder Cup but by Monday the family did not have many opportunities to speak to the player, even though there was a big party in the European team's hotel on Sunday night.

Asked when he will get a chance to have a proper conversation with Shane, Brendan laughed: “I'll get to talk him maybe at Christmas.”