On the couch with Shane Lowry - The Proust Questionnaire

Shane Lowry tries his hand at surfing. He wasn't upright for long. Picture courtesy www.shanelowrygolf.com

Shane Lowry sat down with us in Portugal last year to try the Proust Questionnaire. One thing is clear, he's not a Westmeath fan. He also confesses that he's "borderline lazy."

What’s your idea of perfect happiness?

Having a good,healthy family when I am older. People think golf is the be all and end all but it actually isn’t. if I am happy when I am 35 or 40 with a nice family and everyone’s happy and healthy, I’ll be happy.

What’s your greatest fear?

Westmeath winning an All Ireland. Or death.

Which living person do you most admire?

My girlfriend Wendy’s sister Melissa had a kidney transplant recently and her other sister, Alison, donated one of her kidneys. So I admire them immensely.

What personal trait do you most dislike in yourself?

I suppose I’m borderline lazy. If there is something to be done, I sometime sit back and forget to do it. Before you know it, it’s too late. 

What trait do you most dislike in other people?

I can’t stand people that are tight. 

What’s your greatest extravagance?

I bought a nice car last year - a Nissan GT-R. But I think I deserved that.

Greatest achievement? "Winning the Irish Open as an amateur." Picture courtesy www.shanelowrygolf.com

What’s your favourite journey? 

I love the drive into Baltray up to the clubhouse. Before I won the Irish Open, I always loved that. I’ve always had a good feeling driving in there. 

On what occasion do you lie?

To keep people happy.

Which words do you most over use?

‘You know.’ I think everyone knows that. I say that in interviews a lot, you know.

When and where were you happiest?

Standing on that putting green in Portugal last year when Fish (Ross Fisher) missed that putt on 18. (Laughs).

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?

My girlfriend Wendy.

What talent would you most like to have?

I’d love to be able to play the guitar.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Winning the Irish Open as an amateur. 

If you were to do and come back as a person or a thing, what do you think it would be?

I’d love to come back as a rock star. I saw The Script in the Aviva last year and Danny, the lead singer, opened up his jacket and held his arms out wide and he had a tricolour underneath. And I just thought, ‘I’d loooove to be a rock star.’

What’s your most treasured possession (apart from the car)?

I don’t have much, apart from my car. It’s the only thing I really own. I never won anything playing football when I was a kid, we were always beaten in the county final.

What’s your most marked characteristic?

I’m laid back.

Old friends are best. Picture courtesy www.shanelowrygolf.com

What do you most value in your friends?

Trust. The group of friends are have are all very trustworthy and reliable. 

Who is your favourite hero of fiction?

I was never a big Superman or Batman fan so I’d have to say Nidge from Love/Hate. 

Who are your heroes in real life?

When I was a kid, Tiger Woods was always up there. Henry Shefflin and Colm Cooper too.

How would you like to die?

Happy.

What’s your motto?

Here for a good time, not a long time.