Just once in their pro team careers have Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry been paired in competition.
That was in the afternoon fourballs on the opening day of the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits but with the all-Ireland pair given a 4 & 3 drubbing at the hands of the American duo of Harris English and Tony Finau.
McIlroy and Lowry were again teammates in last September’s Ryder Cup triumph however European captain Luke Donald chose not pair them in any of the four Fourball and Foursome competition.
Some six years on and McIlroy and Lowry are teamed in making their debut in the only ‘regular’ team event on the PGA Tour, and in what also is the 86th anniversary of an event first known as the Crescent City Open that since 2017 has been a team event.
Hopeful Mardis Gras celebrating time for @McIlroyRory & @ShaneLowryGolf on a first @VisitNewOrleans
As the all-Ireland team look to capture @Zurich_Classic @TPCLouisianaAGR
Read: https://t.co/I8fF9c8UrS
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— Golf & Science News (@TOURMISS) April 24, 2024
The tournament again being staged on the alligator-infested TPC Louisiana course carries a prize purse and if McIlroy and Lowry should win they each will pocket a pretty decent $1,286,050.
“Yeah, it’s good to be here”, said Lowry. “I was saying it to one of our pro-am partners out there today, professional golf, year in and year out, it’s a bit of a grind sometimes when you’re on your own a lot, so it’s nice to have something different this week and especially to be here with a really good friend and enjoy New Orleans and hopefully go out and play some good golf and give ourselves a chance to win on Sunday”.
McIlroy responded: “My same sentiments. Obviously this is my first time here in New Orleans. I’m excited to be here. It’s a tournament that I’ve watched on TV for quite a few years, especially since they went to the team format.
“Shane and I have played in a couple of Ryder Cup teams together, and we thought it would be fun to team up together again in something like this.
“As Shane said, this is my 17th year as a professional golfer, and to be able to still do things for the first time like play in this event and experience something like this is pretty cool.
“Just really excited to spend the week with Shane, and hopefully I don’t put him in too many bad spots and we can play some good golf”,
