Surely, it has to be a rare first in the golf.

Two brothers winning within a six-day period, one a leading amateur event and the other one of the more prestigous events on the professional circuit.

Last Monday, Alan Lowry joined his older brother Shane in capturing the prestigous Mulligar Scratch Cup in Ireland.

At the time Lowry was winging his way to Akron, Ohio for the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.

Bank of Ireland backed Shane Lowry captures the biggest tournament of his career and in the process earns a prize cheque for $US 1.5m (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

Alan Lowry won the event and thereby joining his brother who captured the tournament in 2008 and a year before turning  pro.

Now six days later Shane Lowry, who is four years older than Alan, has won the biggest tournament of his professional career and with it a whopping $US 1.5m first prize cheque.

As well, Lowry earned a three-year PGA Tour exemption and a similar exemption the European Tour and should he take it, he will be eligible to join the Asian Tour, the Sunshine Tour & Australasian Tour.

And while Alan Lowry has followed his brother as a winner of the Mulligar Scratch Cup now Lowry has folllowed Rory McIlroy as the very next winner of the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.

Alan Lowry, and four years younger than Shane, wins the Mulligar Scratch Cup six days earlier.

Lowry was asked about his relationship with McIlroy soon after his Akron success.

“Rory is two years younger than me, but like he was a lot like — he played men’s golf when he was 14, 15, and I was still like — like I was playing boys golf then and under 18s,” said Lowry.

“He developed a lot quicker than I did. We were kind of around the same scene for maybe two years.

“We played on a couple of teams together, and we won a couple of tournaments on teams. Then when I turned pro, obviously, Rory was there when I won the Irish Open, and I turned pro. Yeah, I’ve knocked around with him for the last few years.

“However to see what he does in the game and how he plays the game is — when you’re hanging around with people like that, like I hang around with Padraig, Rory, G Mac, guys who have done well in the game and who have won majors.

“When you knock around with people like that, it definitely helps you. Yeah, you surround yourself with the right people.”