Lowry eager to 'keep playing good golf' at BMW Championship after Irish Open success

LAST UPDATE | 33 mins ago

SHANE LOWRY IS determined to maintain his Irish Open-winning form as he turns his attention to the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth this week.

Lowry stormed to a record 11-shot win on 23 under in Doonbeg last Sunday, closing out with a superb final round of 63. The 39-year-old also registered a course-record of 62 on the second day of the tournament.

Speaking to ASAP Sports, Lowry said he wants to carry that momentum into Wentworth this week, where he will tee off with Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick on Thursday morning at 7.50am.

“It’s been a mad few days. I’m here at a big tournament this week and I want to kind of keep going and playing good golf. I’ve been through a few little tough times this year. It’s been pretty good to do that.

“Rest is going to be important over the next few days and if I can play golf the way I am, hopefully give myself a chance this week, as well.

Advertisement

“This is my favourite tournament of the year. Love coming over here. Just love being here, the whole area. We get looked after so well. I think this is obviously our biggest tournament of the year, and the Tour do a great job in the tournament they put on here.”

Lowry was in Adare Manor on Monday where the Ryder Cup will be held next year. Team Europe captain Luke Donald organised the trip with Jon Rahm, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, and Viktor Hovland among those who also attended.

“It was really nice,” Lowry continued. “I was very tired on the course, and we had a good time. It was a worthwhile trip for the team, and I’m sure Luke and Dodo got some good stuff out of it. I got to go home and see my parents and everyone in Offaly on Monday evening, so that was nice.

“It’s been great. There have plenty of Mondays this year, where I’ve not been in the best of form so it’s nice to be around people you’re closest to and try and enjoy it as much as you can.”

Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy has heaped praised on Lowry over his Irish Open success.

The Co Down man says they shared some heart-to-hearts following some hard times for Lowry when he has lost tournaments from a winning position, such as the Cognizant Classic and Dubai Invitational. 

Emphatic 

“Like I said to Shane afterwards, on Sunday, form is temporary and class is permanent,” McIlroy said ahead of this week’s tournament in Wentworth. 

“He is that calibre of a player we all know he is. It was just a matter of him getting back to that point and winning a tournament.

“I think him finishing it off in emphatic style the way he did, I think it will do a lot for him, and it will hopefully do a lot for him with how he approaches final rounds going forward because I think he would admit himself that final rounds have been a struggle over the last couple of years for him.

“But I think for him to go out, shoot 63 on the final day leading your national Open with all that crowd support behind you, he really went out there, and he grabbed the tournament by the throat and made it his. It was amazing to see.

“He’s had some hard times this year, and we’ve had some chats and heart-to-hearts about it. All I can try to be is a good friend and provide encouragement and maybe provide examples of what I’ve tried to do in those circumstances.

“Yeah, as I said, I think it was only a matter of time. It was amazing to see.”  

McIlroy has been grouped with fellow 2026 major champions Aaron Rai and Ryan Fox at the BMW PGA Championship, and will get their first round underway at 7.40am on Thursday.

Additional reporting by Sinéad Farrell