Ireland’s Shane Lowry will use this fortnight of competition in the States to finally establish himself well inside the top-50 on the World Rankings.
Lowry has been top-50 ranking ‘bubble’ since last November when he moved to 47th, and into the top-50 for a first occasion in his career following his fifth place in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
The Bank of Ireland backed pro then jumped to a career high of 40th in sharing seventh place in the Farmers Insurance Open but then dropped to 48th after missing the Masters halfway cut.
Shane Lowry joins fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington and Scotland’s Marc Warren.
Lowry then fell to 55th in also sitting out the weekend rounds of the Players Championship but got himself back to 50th, and into the U.S. Open on the back of sharing fifth in the BMW PGA Championship.
A strong ninth at Chambers Bay saw Lowry move to 45th in the world but then missing the cut by a stroke in last month’s Open Championship sees Lowry teeing up in today’s (THU) commencing WGC – Bridgestone Invitational currently ranked 48th.
“It’s firstly nice to come back here to Firestone knowing that there is no cut and you are guaranteed four rounds, “ said Lowry.
Shane Lowry tees off the 10th during a Wednesday practice round at the Firestone Country Club.
“It’s amazing as I first played here in ’09 so to come back here six years later I just feel a different player and having played the course already this week there is spots out there where I am hitting the ball 30-yards longer than I did back in ’09.
“Like into the 18th I was hitting sand-wedge yesterday compared to a 7-iron when I was first here at Firestone.
“But more importantly the World Ranking points and Race to Dubai points are huge these two weeks and while I am lying about 27th on the Race to Dubai I am also looking to jump up the World Rankings.
Starting out on a practice round for Harrington, Lowry and Warren.
“So hopefully two decent results these next two weeks can get me well and truly locked into the top-50 as that is the ideal scenario for me competing in what will be my last two weeks in the States this year.
“I have pretty much secured my PGA Tour card for next year but cementing my place inside the top-50 is the big goal.”
And while Lowry looks to the assurance of being exempt for the Majors and WGCs he’s expressed surprise Tiger Woods, an eight-time winner of the Bridgestone Invitational, is not exempt.
“It’s quite bizarre that you win a single tournament like this eight times and there is no exemption for a player like Tiger,” said Lowry.
“I am sure everyone, and moreso the sponsors, would love to have Tiger competing but then there’s guys likes myself striving to win one WGC let alone eight of the same tournament.”
Lowry is no stranger to both this week’s Firestone County Club course, and making his third appearance while he made his PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, and next week’s host venue, five years ago.
Joining Lowry is Padraig Harrington and delighted to be teeing up in the $US 9.25m event for a first occasion since 2011.
“It’s great to be back as it’s a great event here, they look after us well and they just do a good job so you never want to miss out,” he said.
“It’s also one of the perks in winning the Honda Classic. When you win, you’re winning, you’re not too worried about that so it’s a nice reminder of your win, to be here.”
And joining Lowry and Harrington is Graeme McDowell who spent Tuesday practicing at Whistling Straits, and where in 2010 he recorded his best PGA Championship finish of tenth.
