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HILTON HEAD, S.C. – Masters champion Rory McIlroy will be good to his word and defend his title at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans next week, according to Shane Lowry, his partner in the PGA Tour's only FedEx Cup regular season two-man team event.
“We’ll be there. I talked to him (Wednesday) morning. We’re good to go,” Lowry tells Golfweek.
McIlroy skipped this week’s signature event at the RBC Heritage, which is one of Lowry’s favorite stops on Tour. Lowry was getting a trim from the tournament barber on the eve of the Heritage when a reporter cracked that he was concerned the burly Irishman might have to make a call to the bullpen to his fellow countryman, Padraig Harrington, to sub for McIlroy, who said during his post-victory media obligations that he planned to jet to Northern Ireland and celebrate with his parents back home in his native Holywood this week.
“To be honest, I didn’t want him to feel like he had to play because of me,” said Lowry, who teamed with McIlroy to win the title in a sudden-death playoff a year ago. “He’s not letting me down if he wanted to take some time. He feels like he wants to get back out there. He feels like next week is a good week to do it. So, yeah, we’ll be there.”
The final round was emotionally challenging for Lowry, who tumbled out of contention with an 81. That disappointment was difficult to absorb in the moment, but Lowry noted that once he realized his Masters dream had faded, he began watching the scoreboards with keen interest.
“I was riding the emotions just like everybody else,” he said.
Initially, Lowry declined an interview request from Golf Channel but once McIlroy clinched his sudden-death victory over Justin Rose, Lowry rushed out of the locker room to greet his pal and said, “He sure doesn’t make it easy, does he!”
Lowry lifted McIlroy off his feet in a bear hug and changed his mind on the interview, speaking with great affection about one of his best friends on Tour. “I was happy for him because of everything that had gone on in the past and because of what could’ve been if it hadn’t gone his way,” Lowry said on Wednesday. “It’s one of your good friends doing the (career) Grand Slam, it’s not something to be sniffed at; it might never happen again in my lifetime. Jordan (Spieth), of course, has a good chance but Scottie as good as he’s been he still needs three legs. The sheer relief and joy, how could I not be happy for (Rory)?”
And happy to reunite with McIlroy in the Big Easy for his first start since becoming the sixth player to complete career Grand Slam.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: 'We're good to go:' Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy to play Zurich Classic
Continue reading...
“We’ll be there. I talked to him (Wednesday) morning. We’re good to go,” Lowry tells Golfweek.
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McIlroy skipped this week’s signature event at the RBC Heritage, which is one of Lowry’s favorite stops on Tour. Lowry was getting a trim from the tournament barber on the eve of the Heritage when a reporter cracked that he was concerned the burly Irishman might have to make a call to the bullpen to his fellow countryman, Padraig Harrington, to sub for McIlroy, who said during his post-victory media obligations that he planned to jet to Northern Ireland and celebrate with his parents back home in his native Holywood this week.
“To be honest, I didn’t want him to feel like he had to play because of me,” said Lowry, who teamed with McIlroy to win the title in a sudden-death playoff a year ago. “He’s not letting me down if he wanted to take some time. He feels like he wants to get back out there. He feels like next week is a good week to do it. So, yeah, we’ll be there.”
The final round was emotionally challenging for Lowry, who tumbled out of contention with an 81. That disappointment was difficult to absorb in the moment, but Lowry noted that once he realized his Masters dream had faded, he began watching the scoreboards with keen interest.
“I was riding the emotions just like everybody else,” he said.
Initially, Lowry declined an interview request from Golf Channel but once McIlroy clinched his sudden-death victory over Justin Rose, Lowry rushed out of the locker room to greet his pal and said, “He sure doesn’t make it easy, does he!”
Lowry lifted McIlroy off his feet in a bear hug and changed his mind on the interview, speaking with great affection about one of his best friends on Tour. “I was happy for him because of everything that had gone on in the past and because of what could’ve been if it hadn’t gone his way,” Lowry said on Wednesday. “It’s one of your good friends doing the (career) Grand Slam, it’s not something to be sniffed at; it might never happen again in my lifetime. Jordan (Spieth), of course, has a good chance but Scottie as good as he’s been he still needs three legs. The sheer relief and joy, how could I not be happy for (Rory)?”
And happy to reunite with McIlroy in the Big Easy for his first start since becoming the sixth player to complete career Grand Slam.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: 'We're good to go:' Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy to play Zurich Classic
Continue reading...
