Shane Lowry has suggested a new Ryder Cup qualifying process way forward as the European Tour looks to merge closer with the mighty PGA Tour.
A landmark agreement was signed last November that will see golf’s two major Tours work together on strategic commercial opportunities including collaborating on global media rights in certain territories.
Also, both Tours will also work in partnership on a number of other areas including global scheduling, prize funds and playing opportunities for the respective memberships.
Shane Lowry suggests a new Ryder Cup points system for PGA Tour-based Europeans
Lowry would like to see the European Tour broaden the awarding of Ryder Cup points for the large number of European-based players competing on the PGA Tour.
They include the likes of Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Lee Westwood, Tommy Fleetwood, Sergio Garcia, Francesco Molinari, Henrik Stenson, Tyrrell Hatton Matthew Fitzpatrick and Lowry.
At this stage, all those Europeans just earn Ryder Cup qualifying points in the regular PGA Tour events off the World Rankings.
Lowry would like to see more points awarded to the many Europeans competing in those regular Tour stops like this week’s Sony Hawaiian Open.
“Personally, I think talk of a merger of the European Tour and PGA Tour is a great move and for those European players who have a card on both tours,” said Lowry.
“Hopefully, the partnership comes together even closer so much so that in a Ryder Cup year, and like this year, you can earn qualifying points teeing-up in PGA Tour events and not just rely on World Ranking points by competing in the regular Tour events in the States.
“Talk of a merger is a good step going forward for the European Tour and for players like Tommy Fleetwood, Rory (McIlroy), Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick and myself it’s good both Tours have come together because if we could make FedEx Cup points either side of ‘The Pond’ and make European Tour points competing in America would make our life a whole lot easier”.
Lowry is currently back in the States ahead of heading to the Middle East over the weekend and teeing-up in next Thursday’s (Jan 21st) Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
The Clara golfer won the event two years ago and then later in 2019 won golf’s oldest major and while Lowry targets a second major, the big goal of 2021 is to be on the flight later this year to Wisconsin and a maiden Ryder Cup showing.
It’s something Lowry has spoken of much since that stunning afternoon at Royal Portrush afternoon but admitting he doesn’t feel he has been overstating his Wisconsin wish.
“I don’t think I am putting extra pressure on myself in talking about the Ryder Cup because that is something I want to do, play on Padraig’s team
“It’s over two years now when I sat down with my team and it was at the end of 2018 and I said to them, like I was around 70th in the world and a couple of seasons prior to that hadn’t been great and I was starting to show a bit of form, and I said to them ‘Lads? the only thing that is going to make me happy over the next couple of years in playing in the Ryder Cup and with Padraig as captain.
“So, that is still one of my main goals this year. I have a few other goals in the pipeline and while it is not just the Ryder Cup, though the Ryder Cup is right up there and I feel, week-in and week-out, I can make that team.
“And not only can I make the team, I can be an addition to the team and we can go over there and win. So, just making the Ryder Cup team is not good enough as you want to go over there and win and I would want to go over there and do something special and play your part in that little piece of history.
“That’s just the way I am as I am always very vocal the way I feel, and when I am chatting with the media I don’t normally hold back. I speak my feelings and I speak the truth and I think that is why people like me, as well.
“So, I am sitting back on the place next September heading to Wisconsin, I know I will be happy and to be honest, if I am back home in Ireland, I will probably not be watching it on TV. I’ll be off somewhere getting away from it and that’s just really the way I am.”
