Rory McIlroy nudged Shane Lowry at a recent European Ryder Cup team gathering as footage of the 2006 football World Cup final was shown. “‘We watched that match together,’” Lowry says McIlroy reminded him. “I was like, ‘What?’ He said: ‘Yeah, European Youths’ Team Championships. Sotogrande.’ From that to sitting at a Ryder Cup dinner, 19 years later is pretty cool.” Next stop, Bethpage.
Lowry has told his close friend that he envies him, in the nicest possible sense. The 38-year-old looked on with smiles, but green eyes, as McIlroy won the Masters – completing a career grand slam – and produced heroics to win a second Irish Open this month. “I said to him the other day, I am starting to get really jealous,” Lowry says. “I also said to him that I hope Irish people realise how lucky they are to have Rory at that level, coming back to play the Irish Open every year.
