Maturing Lowry resumes Ryder Cup campaign at Torrey Pines

Shane Lowry will crank up in the 16th season of his professional career at Torrey Pines today looking to take another big step towards a third Ryder Cup cap at Bethpage Black in September.

The Offaly man, who turns 38 a week before the Masters on April 2, tees it up alongside Tony Finau and defending champion and potential Ryder Cup teammate Matthieu Pavon in the Farmers Insurance Open today, hoping to take advantage of the absence of names such as Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Collin Morikawa.

The world number 28's big goal this year is to qualify for Luke Donald's European team, which will be bidding to become the first to win away from home since 2012.

Following wins for 2023 teammates Tyrrell Hatton in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and Sepp Straka in The American Express on Sunday, it's now his turn to take a step towards winning one of six automatic places.

"I've got huge things ahead over the next year, obviously, first and foremost, we look to April and the Masters, and then you look at the other majors after that," Lowry said in Dubai at the end of an ultra-consistent 2024, when he challenged for two major wins and claimed a team victory with Rory McIlroy in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. 

"Probably at the forefront of my mind is that Ryder Cup next year. That's a huge thing for me to do. I really want to be a part of that side, and I really want to be a part of a winning side. So I'll do everything I can for the next nine months to do that, and hopefully, we get the job done."

Lowry racked up four top tens and another eight top 20 finishes in 2024, finishing sixth behind Xander Schauffele in the PGA Championship and The Open.

Now one of the best iron players in the world, he's taken his putting to another level thanks to the foundations laid by putting coach Stephen Sweeney and he's clearly got the game to add to his major haul.

"His game has been the best of his career this year," Pádraig Harrington says of Lowry. "He's comfortable off the tee. He drives it very straight. He's turned into a really, really, really good iron player and the persistent practice with the putting has paid off.

"Clearly he needed structure and Stephen Sweeney gives him that. Plus, Bob Rotella is there as well, so while there was some frustration at the start in terms of expectations, it's paid off big time."

While he had that team win with McIlroy, Lowry remains stuck on six wins in the professional game and getting over the line more consistently must be a goal.

"Look, I would have liked to have won," he said of 2024. "I feel like I probably could have over the last number of months with the golf I've played. But I've showed myself this year that I've still got a lot of good golf in me, and hopefully my best days are still ahead me."

His return to Royal Portrush for The Open Championship in July, scene of his major breakthrough six years ago, is underlined in the calendar.

And yet few would rule him out of contending for the US Open at Oakmont in June, where he had a four-stroke lead heading into the final round in 2016 before losing out to Dustin Johnson.

While the Ryder Cup gets Lowry's juices flowing, it will be in the majors where he will have the opportunity to make hay in the qualifying stakes.

"The reason I practise is for those big tournaments," he said. "So I feel like I gave a good account of myself in the majors this year and in the big events. So it's all going in the right direction, and hopefully, the future is bright."

As for Bethpage, he knows it won't be easy in front of that raucous New York crowd.

"I'm sure Luke will have whoever's going there well versed in how to deal with it," he said. "I just really want to be a part of that team. We'll see what happens."

McIlroy is certain to be on the plane to New York, but both men will also be appearing at The K Club for the Amgen Irish Open from September 4-7, after the Holywood star confirmed his presence yesterday.