Lowry big in Japan with Dunlop invite

Shane Lowry will bring his rookie season to an end by taking on Vijay Singh in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Just a mock up, but Lowry will be in Asia's shop window for real in November.The Irish Open champion, 22, has been given an invitation to tee it up in the Japan Golf Tour’s €1.5m Dunlop Phoenix Tournament from November 19-22.

At least that’s the plan, providing Shane doesn’t make up the €370,000 plus deficit that is keeping him out of the season-ending Dubai World Championship, which takes place the same week.

Only the top-60 money winners on the European Tour will tee it up on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates and Lowry, 181st in the money list with €76,770, is unlikely to qualify.

His win in the Irish Open as an amateur made him a name worldwide but he didn’t get the €500,000 winner’s cheque that effectively secured Robert Rock’s place in last week's Vivendi Trophy. 

The invitation is a coup for Lowry, who will be taking on the likes of Singh and Ryo Ishikawa at Phoenix Country Club, which is rated one of the top three courses in Japan.

“It’s a big invite for him to get,” said his manager Conor Ridge. “We’ve been working on it for a while.”

The Dubai World Championship has denied the Japanese event some of its usual invitees with Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson, Ernie Els and Gonzalo Fernandez Castaño certain to play in Dubai that week.

LowryloadWhatever about the field, Lowry is bidding to become the second Irish winner of this title since Padraig Harrington denied Tiger Woods and hat-trick of wins in 2006.

There is no news of appearance money but the Clara man will earn €300,000 if he wins his first event as a professional in Miyazaki.