Fatigued Shane Lowry faces his nemesis Carnoustie in R1 of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
The Irishman put in a heroic effort at Whistling Straits in the Ryder Cup, but he's feeling the after-effects as he prepares for Thursday's first round.
It's not difficult to read the words of Shane Lowry ahead of this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and wonder if it's a golden opportunity to oppose him.
Shane Lowry's Dad celebrates his winning putt.#TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/C9L5GePeft
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 25, 2021
Lowry in the Dunhill Links
Lowry in round one on Thursday
The good news: he starts with his good friend Padraig Harrington. The bad news: he's at Carnoustie.
In 2018 he played Carnoustie in round two and needed 75 shots. The same year he carded 74-73 there to miss the cut in the Open (his championship rebound a year later was as good as it gets, mind).
"I sat in the car park in Carnoustie almost a year ago and I cried. Golf wasn't my friend at the time. It was something that had become very stressful and weighing on me. And, look, 12 months on - what a difference a year makes!" Inspirational @ShaneLowryGolf. 👏🏻 #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/eSASNA00sh
— Pundit Arena (@PunditArena) July 22, 2019
It gets worse at Carnoustie. That other Friday 75 in his recent record book? Yep, that was there as well, in 2017.
Nonetheless, the evidence is pretty damning. He racks up a lot of big numbers at Carnoustie. Throw in the tiredness and, a paradoxically good day aside, he looks ripe to oppose in round one. Obviously his partner Harrington has issues of his own, but he's a big price on a course which holds fond memories for him (site of his first Open triumph).
Lowry has also been paired with his Ryder Cup team-mate Tommy Fleetwood in a 72-hole match bet.
Lowry on his Ryder Cup debut
PURE EMOTION!
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) September 25, 2021
An incredible performance from Shane Lowry capped off in the perfect fashion with a clutch putt on the 18th 🇮🇪 #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/m4WlXXSwRP