AFTER MAKING IT into the top 50 of the world rankings on Sunday thanks to a fifth place finish at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, Shane Lowry is looking forward to next year and says he wants to beat the world’s best.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport yesterday the Offaly native described how anxious he felt being outside the top 50 and how relieved he was when he made the jump.
“It has been hanging over me the last few years this whole top 50 thing. I didn’t really know how to feel about it.
“I just wanted to be going into January, into that run of tournaments without it hanging over my head and that was the main reason I was trying so hard over the last few months to get over that hurdle and thankfully I went out Sunday and showed a lot of character and courage to shoot the round that I did.”
The 27-year-old now sits 47th in the list, inside the all important top 50 places that earn invites to The Masters in Augusta as well as World Golf Championships.
“I’m not 100 percent sure but I think it’s almost mathematically impossible for me to fall out of the top 50 now. I’m playing Sun City next week and there’s some good world ranking points there as well so hopefully I can go there and kick on and keep my recent form going. So I think I’m pretty much done and dusted and will be in Augusta in April.”
After winning the 2009 Irish Open as an amateur Lowry turned professional shortly afterwards and feels that after five and a half years on tour he’s earned his place among the world’s elite. He has no intention of resting on his laurels however.
“I want to play against the best players in the world. And not only play against them, but beat them. That’s the kind of thing that spurs me on to go out there and practice so I’m really looking forward to 2015, it should be a great year.”
First published at 15.35
