Shane Lowry is primed to take advantage of a still crimson-faced Rory McIlroy if drawn, as expected, against the reigning World No. 1 in next week’s WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship in Arizona.
Lowry dropped to No. 65 in the world but with the withdrawal of World No. 10 Phil Mickelson the Irishman will make his debut in the $8.75m event.
Shane Lowry comfortable facing Rory McIlroy or Tiger Woods at next week’s WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
McIlroy will be returning to competition for a first time since the embarrassment of leaving new sponsors Nike out on a limb in missing the halfway cut in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
And with the uncertainity in McIlroy’s game and new equipment Lowry is looking to take full advantage and cash-in at the expense of the World No. 1.
“Rory is going to have a lot of pressure on him with the whole Nike thing after what happened in Abu Dhabi,” said Lowry in today’s edition of the Irish Examiner.
“But Rory is Rory and he is not the best golfer in the world for nothing so it’s going to be a very tough match. He is going to be coming out with all guns blazing next week trying to prove everyone wrong, but I will have nothing to lose.
“I’m not saying I’d have a better chance of beating Rory (than Tiger) but I would be more comfortable. It’s going to be good craic and I’m really looking forward to it.”
“I will just have to take it one match at a time and hopefully I can cause a big upset in the first round and you never know what can happen after that. I can’t wait.”
The WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship has a history of big names being cut down to size so Lowry will head to the desert Dove Mountain course knowing he has nothing loose but all to gain including whopping $1.4m first prize cheque.
“All I can do is go out and try and make as many birdies as I can without throwing away holes, which is huge against players like Rory or Tiger (Woods), ” he said.
“If I end up playing Tiger, obviously it is going to be quite intimidating so I have to try to get a game plan in place and get my frame of mind right.”
And as reported in today’s edition of the Irish Independent Lowry added there could be one of two outcomes in playing McIlroy.
“Make him play better and want to prove a point or put on an added bit of pressure he doesn’t really need,” said Lowry. “Yet Rory is Rory, probably one of the most gifted golfers that ever walked the earth.”
And after Lowry secured his Match Play berth by just .0002 of a World Ranking point thanks to PGA Tour rookie Patrick Reed the Irishman believes he owes the 22-year old Texan.ip
“I think I owe him dinner,” said Lowry who Karl MaGinty reports he could honour that debt if, as expercted, he wins a sponsor’s invite to the Puerto Rico Open, which coincides with next month’s WGC Cadillac Championship at Doral.
Lowry will travel to Arizona on Saturday and with Lowry remarking to Karl there is no reason why he and Horizon stablemate McIlroy won’t practise or dine together in Tucson. “Playing a practice round would not be an issue,” he said.
“I’m sure there’ll be a bit of banter between the two of us anyway. At the end of the day, it’s a game of golf. It’s not like we’re going out to fight each other.”
