Ponte Vedre, FL ….

Shane Lowry revealed he and his young family will remain in the US at their rented premises on the Ballen Isle estate at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida rather than return home to Ireland.

Lowry, and like all 142 colleagues contesting the PGA Tour’s premier event, were still allowing to sink-in the decision to cancel the event and the next four on the PGA Tour schedule up to the week prior the Masters.

Then while the players were arriving to the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse and the news was delivered around 10am loca time Friday of the Masters move.

“It all seems a pity what’s transpired since late last night and now with the Masters being postponed,” said Lowry

“I think the PGA Tour and Augusta is doing the right thing but who knows, and all I am looking forward to do is to take the family back our house and kind of batten down the hatches.

“It’s good that the Tour has now taken the steps to cancel the events leading up to the Masters as you would not want to regret not taking that action because is someone does contract the virus or whatever you will just have so many regrets.

“Yes, the Players is cancelled.  The Masters is postponed but at the end of the game it is just a sport but an individual’s well-being is more important.

“Though I have to say it’s not good for a while to come and it could be months before we get back to competition.

“I’m thinking also, and I’ve said this before, but my granny is 82 while my dad is 60 with a bit of heart problem while my wife’s sister has three kidney transplants while Wendy’s granny is 88 and they are more important than anyone else.

“I have not been off the phone this morning to everyone back home making sure that no-one goes visiting unless it is really urgent.

“So, I’ll take Wendy and Iris back to the house we have and even though there will be no tournaments for the foreseeable future we will be better off in Florida and beside there is plenty of courses where I can play a few social rounds.”