Lowry takes on his brother as stand-in caddie

Alan Lowry (Leinster) bunkered at the 8th green during the final day of the 2017 Interprovincial Matches at Carlow Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Shane Lowry will have his brother Alan on his bag for the next four weeks as he seeks the spark he needs to keep his PGA Tour card.

Lowry (31) and his bagman of nine years, Dermot Byrne, decided after his disappointing opening round in The Open that they needed a break.

The Offaly star had his coach Neil Manchip on the bag for the second round at Carnoustie but missed the cut and he’s now under serious pressure to keep his US playing rights.

Defending champion Alan Lowry pictured with his brother Shane (2008 winner) at the launch of the 2016 Mullingar Scratch Cup. Picture by Pat Cashman

Lowry and Byrne may yet get back together but with little time to find a replacement, he’s decided that former Leinster interprovincial Alan (25) understands him best and will carry the bag in this week’s RBC Canadian Open, the Barracuda Championship, the US PGA and the Wyndham Championship.

Currently ranked 168th in the FedEx Cup standings, Lowry needs to move into the top 125 after the Wyndham Championship on August 19 to keep his PGA Tour card and qualify for the playoffs.

Esker Hills golfer Alan, who was scheduled to play in the South of Ireland Championship off a handicap of plus one at Lahinch this week, works in accountancy in Dublin.

He graduated from Maynooth Unversity, where he was in the Paddy Harrington Golf Scholarship Programme, and followed in his famous brother’s footsteps by winning the Mullingar Scratch Cup in 2015.

Lowry, who won in Akron just a few days after his brother’s win in Mullingar, will sit down with his team on his return from the US before deciding on his caddying arrangements for the rest of the season.