Shane Lowry shocks golfing world
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2009 Irish Open | Round Four | 18 May 2009
It took 35 years for Pablo Martin to become the first amateur to win a European Tour event in 2007, but in 2009, Danny Lee and now Shane Lowry have added significantly to that statistic.
Danny Lee of course won earlier this year at the Johnnie Walker Classic and today the 22 year old Irishman Shane Lowry won the 3 Irish Open in a playoff with Robert Rock.
“I can’t describe what I’m feeling at this minute,” said Lowry soon after his victory. “You know, just shocked more than anything else. I came into this week got an invite to play my first Tour event. Would have been happy enough to make the cut and went out, and shot 62, on Friday and after that, I thought, right, this is my week, I can win. You know, I still can’t believe it.”
It was Lowry’s first European Tour event and begs the question as to what he will do with the potential status he has in professional golf. As was the case with Danny Lee, he has the opportunity to stay amateur until after the Walker Cup which he is no doubt keen to play and once he turns professional he then has 14 days to take up membership of the European Tour. He would then earn the exemption benefits this win would bring.
“No, I’m going to have to think about that until the morning,” he said referring to his options. “I’m sure I’ll have a phone call with Colin Dalgleish (The Walker Cup non playing captain) first thing in the morning, and I’d like to speak with some other people and see what they think. You know, you never know.”
In case you were feeling sorry for the resurgent Englishman Robert Rock, who also finished runner up in Italy last week, he takes home the first prize cheque of €500,000 as Lowry’s amateur status precludes him from claiming any prizemoney.
John Edfors finished third while Nick Dougherty and Marc Warren shared fourth.
Lowry missed a short putt at the 72nd hole which would have given him victory before the playoff and had to wait three further holes before he was then able to take advantage of a mistake by Rock when the Englishman pitched over the green at the par five and took six.
The best of the two Australians to make the cut was Brett Rumford who had won this event at this venue five years ago. Rumford recovered from a slow start to the event to finish in a share of 8th place. It was Rumford’s best finish outside of Australia since the Bob Hope Classic in 16 months.
Marcus Fraser finished 41st.
