Shane Lowry believes his decision to skip the Scottish Open could prove to be the ideal preparation as he bids for a second Open Championship title at Royal Portrush this week.
The 38-year-old Irishman famously triumphed the last time The Open was staged on the County Antrim links in 2019 – a career-defining moment that etched his name into golfing history and lives on in the hearts of local fans.
Opting out of competitive play last week, Lowry instead returned home to enjoy a relaxed stretch of golf at some of Ireland’s most iconic courses, including Portmarnock, The Island, Baltray, Waterville, Old Head and Adare Manor.
“It’s been an amazing couple of weeks,” said Lowry. “I haven’t been home to Ireland since Christmas, so it’s nice to be back and I feel a bit rejuvenated and ready to go again.”
Lowry admitted he had been running on empty following a hectic stretch of golf leading into the US Open.
“I played nine of 11 weeks and it got the better of me – that’s my own fault,” he said. “I’ve had a couple of weeks to take a step back and I do feel ready.”
That said, the 2019 Champion Golfer of the Year joked that playing too well in practice can sometimes work against him.
“I played well the last two days, so that’s not good,” Lowry said with a laugh. “Sometimes when everything is going great, I get complacent, then I’m three over through five and panicking. When things are not going well, I’m usually at my best – maybe I just need to play badly for a few days and everything will be alright!”
Lowry’s legacy at Portrush has been immortalised with a mural just a few streets from the golf course, celebrating his unforgettable six-shot victory five years ago. But ever the grounded competitor, he said he’s glad his accommodation for the week is in the opposite direction.
“When I won here in 2019 it was very special – an amazing day for the country and for everyone around me – but it didn’t change me as a person,” said Lowry.
“When the mural went up I didn’t feel like I was being immortalised. I’m just myself, I’m just OK at golf, and I’ve had the chance to achieve something special. It’s pretty cool that they’ve acknowledged that.”
Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
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