Open hero misses out on €500,000 first prize but golden future waits
Lowry pictured celebrating his win, must now decide whether to turn professional and reap the rewards that surely await him
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Monday May 18 2009
IRISH golfing sensation Shane Lowry faces the choice of a lifetime after making history in the 3 Irish Open at Baltray yesterday.
Champion Lowry, the first amateur to win the open, has to decide if he will join the European Tour immediately or wait until September.
His victory means he automatically gets full status on the Tour until the end of 2011 -- a much-prized exemption.
Top golf management companies are already queuing for his signature after he beat the professionals in the €3m tournament.
The 22-year-old, from Clara, Co Offaly, falls into a different category as a tournament winner, although he missed out on a financial bonanza yesterday.
Amateur
England's Robert Rock, who tied with Lowry on 271 for the four rounds, took the top prize of €500,000, despite losing a play-off that lasted three extra holes.
As an amateur, Lowry could not accept the cash. How did he feel about missing out on a bumper pay day?
"Obviously it would be great, but I'm sure I won't have to worry about that in the future.
"I can't describe what I'm feeling at this minute. I still can't believe it," he said after his win. "But I will have to take a day or two to think about my future. I know my life is about to change forever. I'm feeling shock more than anything."
Rory McIlroy, who is already a multi-millionaire at 20, respects Lowry's ambition to play on the British and Irish Walker Cup team against the USA next September, but said: "If he really wants to, and he believes that he should play Walker Cup, then he should, but he's just won on the European Tour. Why does he need to stay amateur?"
Lowry's father Brendan and his mother Bridget were in the gallery suffering through the tension of the play-off.
Brendan and Shane's uncles Mick and Sean played on the Offaly team that beat Kerry in the 1982 All-Ireland football final.
"This is better than an All Ireland win for me," said Shane.
"It is for me, too," said dad Brendan.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen, also a native of Clara, and Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister Martin Cullen were also there to congratulate the new champion.
- Liam Kelly
