Shane Lowry will be hoping the added Valero Texas Open prize this week of a pair cowboy boots will fit better than his golf shoes.
Lowry was sporting a new pair of golf shoes during a practice round ahead of this week’s $US 6.2m event but admitting the shoes were a little too big for the Carton House pro.
However any footwear discomfort was not evident with Lowry’s game looking in great shape and in this his final event before he makes his Masters debut next fortnight at Augusta National.
Shane Lowry at the 11th tee of the TPC San Antonio course. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Lowry is returning to competition after missing the cut in last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational in suburban Orlando.
But after spending the weekend on the Lake Nona practice range, and the exclusive golfing estate where Lowry has rented a house up until the Masters, he’s quietly confident of a good showing in the Alamo city.
“After taking a nice week off following my 17th place finish at Doral I came back out for the Arnold Palmer thinking normal service would resume and I would continue to play well,” he said.
Shane Lowry drives off the 11th hole during practice ahead of the 2015 Valero Texas Open. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“But I just ended up playing average on Thursday and leaving myself too much to do to make the cut on Friday.
“So missing the cut was like a wake-up call for me and while you don’t want to miss a cut when you do it can be like a reality check and that’s what it was like for me last week at Bay Hill.
“It was the first cut I had missed since the Irish Open last year and it’s not like I played poorly last week, it’s just that I played average on Thursday.
“So spending the weekend on the range at Lake Nona was perfect for me, so I just did my own thing before flying over here to San Antonio.
Scotland’s Marc Warren and Shane Lowry checking text messages on the 13th tee during a delay in their practice round. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I am liking being over here in the States and apart from last week, that’s showed in my results as I am really enjoying my golf over here.
“I played nine holes on Tuesday with Marc Warren who has an invitation and we had such a great time, and that’s something that is lacking over here and that’s the only thing lacking, the camaraderie.”
Upon arrival in the Alamo City Lowry, like all other players including fellow Irishman Graeme McDowell, was handed the keys to his courtesy car for the week a Ford F-150 pick-up truck.
And Lowry’s no stranger to the Greg Norman designed course having finished T15th two years ago on debut.
Shane Lowry blasts out of a bunker at the 15th hole on the TPC San Antonio course. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“The golf course is in fantastic shape and it just suits my game so I am looking forward to the week,” he said.
And if Lowry were to succeed in being presented with a pair of Texan cowboy boots along with the $US 1.116m first prize cheque he will not be tempted to contest next week’s Shell Houston Open.
“No, I’m having next week off and after a couple of days off I will spend the remainder of next week back at Lake Nona where the greens staff have worked hard to get the greens what we are likely to find at Augusta,” he said.
“My fiancée Wendy arrives this Sunday night and then will fly to Augusta the Sunday before the Masters.”
Shane Lowry driving off the 18th at TPC San Antonio. (Photo -www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Lowry’s revealed he’s arranged to play an Augusta practice round with Padraig Harrington while his father, Brendan will caddy in the Masters Par Three Contest.
And Lowry’s not at all worried winning the Par Three given the hoodoo that no-one who has won the Par Three Contest has then gone on to win the Masters in the same year.
“That myth has to be broken sometime and I can’t see why I can’t be the first,” he said smiling.
“It’s like this week, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could win.”
Graeme McDowell will play the opening two rounds in the company of Americans Dustin Johnson and Jim Furyk.
