For champion golfer Shane Lowry it was just akin to another day in the office.
Lowry was fourth in the fourth out at an early 7.30am tee-off in Wednesday’s Arnold Palmer Pro-Am ,captaining the side of Chiro Aikat, Abhivav Arnand and Daryl Risinger, each a member at the Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Lodge and Club and all four residing the Orlando area.
Also joining the group was Lowry’s father Brendan, who this journalist and then working for the R & A media team had arranged to walk inside the ropes over the final 17 holes of the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
As well, Shane’s very approachable and always engaging manager, Brian Moran was also out walking the famed course in the rather warm Spring morning sunshine.
CLEALY CARRYING NO ‘EXCESS’ BAGGAGE ….
With @ShaneLowryGolf winning the praise of his @APinv pro-am partners & autograph hunters alike as he always does
And also close friend & golfing colleague @McIlroyRory
“He was in good spirits. I reminded him, I double bogeyed the… pic.twitter.com/jCfcS30Lo2
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) March 4, 2026
Lowry was his ever cordial, engaging and assisting best with his three team-mates and this clearly mirrored in their comments post the round.
“Shane was fantastic to play with”, said Chiro. “We had such a great time in his company, and given how well he played I would agree with many that he could very well go close to walking away with the trophy.
“He helped out with each of our games, and offered so much support that it was just a real pleasure to be in his company”.
Waiting for Chiro and his two golfing friends at the close of the round was framed shot, each autographed by Lowry, of them taken on the first tee with Lowry presented to them as a lasting momento of the outing.
There was plenty of autograph hunters also all about the the course who were equalled delighted to walk away with Lowrys’ autograph.
Rory McIlroy, and Lowry’s closest friend out the Tour, also summed it superbly.
“I played golf with him on Monday morning. He was fine”, said McIlroy referring to he and Lowry teaming to win the annual Seminol Pro/Amateur competition.
“He was in good spirits. I reminded him, I double bogeyed the 16th at PGA National in 2014 to lose the tournament, andI went on to win two majors that year.
“So I was trying to, yeah, like, look, it’s one event, it was two bad holes, two bad swings. It doesn’t mean that the rest of the year’s going to be bad.
“Again, I had a horrible finish there in 2014 and ended up going on to have one of the best years of my career. So I just reminded him of that”.
Well said Rors and what any close friend would say.
