2 weeks Ago By Vincent Whelan
SHANE Lowry made a quip to his caddie midway through Rory McIlroy’s date with destiny at Augusta about the chances of him lining out at the Zurich Classic.Despite what’s surely been a hectic 10 days of celebrations in the US as well as closer to home, McIlroy is back to business at this week’s PGA Tour tournament in New Orleans.@SkySportsGolfOnce again he’ll be pairing up with Lowry as they defend the title they won last year[/caption]ReutersThe Down native was left emotionally drained after finally ending his 11-year major drought[/caption]The five-time major winner ignited his 2024 season by claiming victory in last year’s edition of the fun-filled team event.
Their success was as much memorable for McIlroy celebrating it by belting out “Don’t Stop Believing” on karaoke moments after they came off the 18th green.But it was his Offaly pal who stole the show at Wednesday’s pre-event press conference when he referenced watching through his fingers like fans all over Ireland did as McIlroy eventually got over the line at The Masters.With the latter beside him, Lowry at one point recalled: “I said to my caddie on the 15th hole at Augusta – obviously I was finished up by then – so I was watching the leaderboard.
“You’d made double-bogey on 13 and I said to Darren (Reynolds) ‘No matter what happens over the next few holes I think we’re going to do well to get him to New Orleans!’“If things hadn’t gone his way I don’t think he’d have wanted to be here.“And I thought if things did go his way I thought he might want to be somewhere else. But I’m happy he’s here.
”Rory, 35, then added: “I remember that was one of the things Shane said to me that night. Y’know about whether I still wanted to play New Orleans.“And I said absolutely because we’re defending a title, we’d so much fun here last year.
“So it was important for me to honour that commitment.” Lifting the lid on how he toasted finally getting his hands on the Green Jacket, he noted the wide array of people who have reached out to congratulate him on becoming only the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam.He continued: “It’s been an amazing few days, reflecting on everything that happened and the magnitude of it.
“The big thing for me is just how the whole journey resonated with people and the people that have reached out to me. That’s been absolutely amazing.“It’s very much been from beyond golf.
I spoke to two presidents the day after, which was pretty cool. “Just people reaching out from all walks of life, whether it be sports, entertainment, culture. All of it.
“People who you would never even think would watch golf or would know what’s going on. That was very, very humbling.“I think people can see themselves in the struggle at times and in everything that you try to put into getting the best out of yourself in that journey.
“I think people watching someone finally get it done, something they’ve been trying to do for a decade-plus, I think that resonated with a lot of people.”.
