11 September 2023 , 21:09
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Shane Lowry looks to have found his form just at the perfect time, days after the Irishman's selection into Europe's Ryder Cup team had raised question marks.
Lowry was named as one of Luke Donald's six captain's picks last Monday, alongside Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Sepp Straka, Nicolai Hojgaard and Ludvig Aberg. The Irishman's selection came two years after he announced himself as one of Europe's only shining lights in their 19-9 drubbing against the Americans at Whistling Straits.
Despite impressing on his Ryder Cup debut, many had questioned whether the BMW PGA champion was worthy of a spot in Donald's 2023 team after struggling for form in recent months.
Heading into last week's Irish Open Lowry had secured just one top-10 finish all season, but his experience from two years prior proved enough for the 36-year-old to secure a recall for the match in Italy at the end of September. Amid the criticism, the Irishman was keen to prove his Ryder Cup doubters wrong, and that he did at the K Club.
Lowry ended his home Open with his best finish of the season, coming in a tie for third, two shots behind eventual champion Vincent Norrman. After capping off an impressive week, Lowry said: "I started the week getting in the Ryder Cup team and I come here and play some of the best golf I've played all year. I'm very pleased with myself."
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Shane Lowry finished in a tie for third at the Irish Open (PA)The Irishman has an exciting few weeks ahead on the back of his return to form. On Sunday evening Lowry joined his fellow European teammates in flying out to Rome in a two-day scouting trip of this year's Ryder Cup host course, Marco Simone.
He then heads to Wentworth later this week where he will defend the BMW PGA Championship that he won by a single-shot ahead of Jon Rahm one year earlier. A week off then follows, before Lowry returns to Rome and rejoins his teammates in a bid to win back the Ryder Cup crown they lost back in 2021.
Looking forward to his plans on the course, he commented: "Exciting few weeks of golf ahead of me now and this is a great way to start and hopefully I can build on it from here... Obviously going back to defend at Wentworth next week and got The Ryder Cup in a few weeks; a very exciting few weeks, and it's a great way to start my few weeks over here [in Europe]. Hopefully I can keep it going."