It has been far too long when Shane Lowry climbed to a career high of 17th in the World Rankings with an eighth place finish in the 2015 Turkish Airlines Open.
Some three months earler, Lowry broke into the top-20 with his stunning success at the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.
But since late 2015 it has been an annoying slip down the Rankings and teeing-up in last week’s DP World Tour Championship as the World No. 85.
Then after grabbing the clubhouse lead thanks to a sizzling 63 and the equal-lowest score of his pro career, Lowry eventually settling for a second, Lowry brilliantly turned around his Ranking slide in securing the fourth-largest World Ranking leap of his career in moving 27 spots to the new World No. 58.
Shane Lowry in good spirits at the recent Turkish Airlines Open in Turkey. (Pnoto – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
His prior biggest jump up the Rankings was 68 places from 142nd in the world to 74th in also securing second at the 2014 BMW PGA at Wentworth that earned the Irishman a place in the U.S. Open.
Of course, high on Lowry’s wish list is that letter post-marked Augusta, GA containing an invitation to contest the Masters.
Lowry has been fortunate to receive such a letter the past three years having ended a year ranked 44th (2014), 21st (2015) and 43rd nearly a year ago.
“On the course it has been rough at times and I plummeted down the World Rankings quite a lot but I have never stopped trying, never stopped working, never gave in,” he said in his Irish Times column written by good friend and colleague, Philip Reid.
“I have always tried my best every day that I go out there and that’s all I can do.
“These past two months of golf have been quite enjoyable for me. I feel like I have played well. It has been a great year personally. I had my biggest trophy of the year, the birth of my little girl (Iris). Golf is obviously hugely important but I am very happy with how the year has gone now and I’m looking forward to next year.”
In the bigger 2018 picture there is his continuing quest for a first European Ryder Cup team cap and having moved into sixth place and highest-ranked Irishman on the European Team standings.
“I can’t wait for next year, I am looking forward to it. I have got huge goals. I want to win again. I want to make the Ryder Cup team,” he also said in the Irish Times.
“They’re my two main goals for next year. I feel I have a lot to add to a European Ryder Cup team. I have the personality and the game to do alright and to do well in a Ryder Cup. I am going to try my best (to qualify).
“Every day I go out there I am going to try as good as I can and hopefully that will be enough to have me in Paris next September.”
