Shane Lowry admits that the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open may be the only event he’s likely to play in Europe this year due to the coronavirus restrictions.

“I haven’t seen a schedule from the European Tour so I can’t really [comment] but I’ll probably be mostly in America for the rest of the year,” the Open champion told 2FM’s Game On.

“Things are just going to be a bit different. I’m just going to go back to what I’ve done the last few years, and that’s kind of living day by day, week by week, and just try to perform the best I can every day.”

Lowry has been based in Florida since March and with a 14-day quarantine currently in place for passengers arriving in the US or Europe, returning to Europe makes little sense this summer.

“The way it is, especially with the quarantine on both sides, I don’t think it’d be physically possible for me (to go back),’” he said.

“The only tournament I would contemplate going back for was if there was an Irish Open put back on the schedule.

“I haven’t seen a schedule from the European Tour so I can’t really but I’ll probably be mostly in America for the rest of the year.

Caddie Harry Diamond to spend two weeks in quarantine before returning to golf with @McIlroyRory

Read more 👉https://t.co/9A1unnhKho @BBCSport pic.twitter.com/OduIBMMlgi
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) May 26, 2020

“Things are just going to be a bit different. I’m just going to go back to what I’ve done the last few years, and that’s kind of living day by day, week by week, and just try to perform the best I can every day.”

With the PGA Tour preparing to resume, Lowry is scheduled to return to action alongside Rory McIlroy (whose caddie Harry Diamond will self-quarantine in McIlroy’s guest house for a fortnight) and Graeme McDowell in the Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas on June 11.

The European Tour has yet to release its proposed schedule but there have been reports that it will start with five events in the UK, back to back.

It is also understood that the Tour and the stakeholders are keen to play the $7 million DDF Irish Open at Mount Juliet later in the season finding a date will not be easy given the compressed US schedule.

McIlroy, incidentally, has reiterated his desire to see the Ryder Cup postponed.

“My personal hunch is that I don't see how it is going to happen, so I do not think that it will happen," McIlroy told BBC Sport.

"I think the majority of players would like to see it pushed back until 2021 so that they can play in front of crowds and have the atmosphere that makes the Ryder Cup so special.

"The players are the ones that make the Ryder Cup. If they are not on board with it and don't want to play then there is no Ryder Cup.

"I see it being pushed back until 2021 and, honestly, I think that will be the right call."

Meanwhile, Tangragee’s Olivia Mehaffey will be heading back to Arizona State University for a fifth year after the covid-19 crisis and the cancellation of the LPGA Tour’s Q-Series scuppered her plans to turn professional.

According to GolfChannel.com:

Mehaffey, a four-time All-American from Belfast, Northern Ireland, decided a few weeks ago that she was going to take advantage of her extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA and return to Arizona State for a fifth season. However, she initially planned to also enter LPGA Q-School and turn pro midseason if she earned status through Q-Series.
Now, with the LPGA recently canceling Q-Series this year, Mehaffey is committed to one more full year in Tempe, as she pursues her Master’s degree in organizational leadership.
“It’s been a roller coaster for the past few weeks, just not knowing what’s ahead. The way I look at it is I was very lucky; I had two great options. And it could also end up being a silver lining. It was going to be quite difficult to get sponsors. Maybe it’s a good thing to wait for another year.
“After all, one year in your life isn’t too much.”

Mehaffey will take advantage of the extra year to do Masters degree in organisational leadership.

She will also have the chance to defend her Pac-12 title, potentially play a third Curtis Cup and win a second NCAA Championship.