Shane Lowry is gearing-up nicely for a maiden trip down Magnolia Lane after he moved to 40th on the World Rankings following last week’s superb San Diego showing.
Lowry picked up four spots on the Rankings on the back of a seventh place finish in the Farmers Insurance Open.
A year ago he was ranked 110th in the world and teeing-up in Euro 1m events in Africa while this week, and for a second week running, Lowry takes his place in a $US6m plus PGA Tour field.
Last week’s Torrey Pines showing was easily the 27-year old Lowry’s best result in his six regular PGA Tour events.
New World No. 40 Shane Lowry and his caddy motoring their way to this week’s AT & T National Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Photo – Shane Lowry)
In fact, Lowry’s first attempt two years at playing more in the States back-fired horribly when he gained invitations into five events over a two-month stretch from March to June 2013.
He first teed-up in the 2013 Puerto Rico Open posting a horrible first round 77 to then miss the cut.
Lowry then received two starts in the Lone Star State, first also missing the cut in the Shell Houston Open but then finishing 15th a week later in the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.
But in his next two events in New Orleans and at the Jack Nicklaus hosted Memorial Lowry again sat out the weekend rounds.
The efforts clearly dented Lowry’s pride so much so it was not till last week at the Farmers Insurance Open he again contested a regular PGA Tour event.
And buoyed by that seventh place showing behind Aussie Jason Day it was no surprise the Carton House pro should post a picture of he and caddy Dermot Byrne happily driving north to Pebble Beach and Thursday’s starting $US 6.8m AT & T National Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Lowry’s Facebook comment read: “Great week in Torrey Pines. Road trip to pebble beach now with the great Dermo”.
As was the scenario last week, it will be Lowry’s first visit to the famed Pebble Beach course laid out along the Pacific Ocean, and where fellow Irishman Graeme McDowell five years ago captured the 2010 US Open.
And how life has changed for Lowry in those five years given he had been an ‘also ran’ at Walton Heath in May 2010 when attempting for a first time to qualify for the US Open.
Now it’s all green lights ahead for the newly-engaged Lowry into all four Majors in 2015.
