Shane Lowry may be relaxed in qualifying for next month’s Accenture Match-Play Championship but he doesn’t like the idea of the possibility of facing good friend and World No. 1 Rory McIlroy in an opening round encounter.
Lowry’s currently ranked 62nd in world and with qualifying for the $US 8.75m event, featuring the world’s top-64 to close on Monday 11th February.
Those players inside the top-64 will then be officially seeded as of their World Ranking a week later and on the Monday prior to the event.
Shane Lowry on the Emirates Club range ahead of this week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
A top of the board finish in this week’s Omega Desert Classic would serve a two-fold purpose for the Clara golfer by not only cementing his place in the Arizona field but also securing a place in the Masters as top-50 in the world.
But on the other side of the coin, and as Lowry is not considering contesting next week’s Joburg Open, the last thing he needs is to miss this week’s Dubai cut.
“A good result this week should take care of it and besides it’s not the end of the world if I don’t qualify for the match-play,” he said.
“Also at least at this stage I’m not due to be drawn against playing Rory (smiling).”
After starting his new season with a top-10 finish in Durban, Lowry then went to Abu Dhabi only to join McIlroy in missing the cut.
The reigning Portugal Masters champion then spent the week at the Els Club in Dubai under the watchful eye of coach, Neil Manchip.
“It was good to finish ninth in Durban as that was a nice surprise but I just struggled on a tough golf course in Abu Dhabi,” said Lowry.
“Then with the way I was feeling I would not have wanted to go last week to Doha.
“So it was a great week I spent with Neil although there wasn’t anything we worked on in particular and it more about getting all the rust out of the system.
“I played golf every day on the Els Club course and undertook a lot of work on my wedge play and while the game doesn’t still feel great, it’s coming along.”
Lowry is among six Irish in this week’s field including European Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley who has twice finished runner-up.
Lowry has only contested this week’s Dubai event twice before, managing to break 70 once, and that was last year with a first round 68 on route to a share of 66th and the only occasion he’s played all four rounds.
Peter Lawrie has not missed a Desert Classic since making his debut in 2003 and his first full season on Tour with his best finish a year later in sharing ninth place.
“I love coming here to Dubai and of the three we play out here in the Middle East this is my favourite by far,” said Lawrie.
“You just don’t have to hit the ball as far and you can shape it a little bit more, so in saying that this one should suit my game better.
“Overall my game’s good and it was good to play four rounds last week in Qatar as I looked like missing the cut as I was three over after three on day two.”
