Shane Lowry is very hopeful he can make his debut later this year in the Tiger Woods hosted Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.
Lowry has qualified for the prestigious, limited field twice before but this year the reigning BMW PGA champion says he’s indicated his desire to play, if all approved, in the 20-player field being hosted by the 15-time major-winning Woods.
“I’ve not played the Hero World Challenge before but then I’ve qualified for the event, so it’s just a matter of waiting for hopefully the official confirmation,” said Lowry speaking ahead of this week’s 21st hosting of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
“It will be good to tee-up as it’s a great tournament, always a great field and from what I’ve seen from TV coverage on a great golf course.”
HOPING @ShaneLowryGolf TO MAKE HIS DEBUT later this year #heroworldchallenge @PGATOUR @HeroMotoCorp
Lowry not previously contested @TGRLiveEvents tournmamnt @AlbanyGolfClub ⛳️@VisitTheBahamas
Read – https://t.co/i5tcq8rKED
✅@TourMiss @wayflyerapp @IrishGolferMag @ted_koala pic.twitter.com/5cSyIuKQmF
— Fatiha Sahnoune & Bernie McGuire (@TOURMISS) September 28, 2022
The traditional end-of-season now Bahamas-based Hero-backed event was actually first played in January 2000 and then again in December that year, and ever since it’s been a December time slot.
Padraig Harrington won in 2000 by two strokes from Tiger Woods while Graeme McDowell, as the reigning 2010 US Open champion, captured the first of two ‘Tiger’ trophies from Woods in a play-off. McDowell won for a second time in 2012.
Somewhat bizarre, but then again it was December, was the sight of many of the houses around the then host Sherwood CC course, located to the north of LA, covered in Christmas decorations.
This year will be the 23rd hosting of the event, with Woods winning on five occasions though the last in 2011.
Lowry also confirmed his schedule for the remainder of 2022 will be heading after this week’s Scottish event to tee-up in the CJ Cup in the States, an event McIlroy is defending, and the DP World Tour Championship and then off to the Bahamas.
Fellow Irishman Rory McIlroy, who played in ‘Tiger’s event’ a year ago, indicated he would not be competing this year.
McIlroy will defend the CJ Cup and then also travel to Dubai in the goal to capture a third Race to Dubai title to go with his triple-winning FedEx No. 1 titles.
