Shane Lowry’s glass half full mentality needed for US Open after toughest round

Shane Lowry admits to a glass half full mentality and he needed it this week ahead of the US Open at Pinehurst.

It was on May 18 that Lowry stood in front of a 12-foot putt at Valhalla with history – a first-ever round of 61 in a major – within reach. His near miss on 18 was enough for a 62 on the Saturday of the US PGA. It made him only the fifth golfer ever to shoot that number.

Three weeks later – last Sunday – the Clara man signed for an 85 on the final day of Jack Nicklaus’ devilishly tough Memorial at Muirfield. It was the worst score of his professional career, beating the 81 he recorded at the Hassan 11 Trophy in Morocco in 2011 and also at Celtic Manor in the Wales Open the following year.

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“I was almost reduced to tears,” said Lowry this week. “It was that type of day.”

Sunday night was tough going but what helped was having his dad and his coach and manager with him. He rallied on Monday, with his good friend Padraig Harrington’s Hall of Fame induction to attend, and after a chat with Bob Rotella.

“It’s a funny old game because even with all the good golf I’ve played this year the one thing you’re coming in this week is all you’re thinking about is one round of golf and that was last Sunday,” Lowry admitted. “I was disappointed it happened when it did. Just got away from me. And look, I tried over every one of those shots.

“All of a sudden, before you know it, it kind of gets embarrassing. It is tough. But days like that make the good days better – my next good day will be very good. I have an opportunity this week, maybe, to do something a bit different – and to come back after a round like that would be special. I’m going to try my best.”

Lowry played that last round of the Memorial with Rory McIlroy, who also had a difficult day. Plenty did, but carding 13-over par really stung the 2019 Open winner.

Starting today, the US Open will be a real test of character, resilience and skill. Last year’s champion Wyndham Clark has described the greens as “borderline”, while Tiger Woods had his own less than cheery verdict for the players to digest.

“This golf course is going to test every single aspect of your game,” said Woods. The 15-times major champion played Pinehurst when the US Open was played there in 1999 and 2004, but he was injured when Martin Kaymer claimed the last victory there a decade ago.

Woods added: “It’s going to take a lot of mental discipline to play this particular golf course. I’m guilty as well as the rest of the guys I’ve played with – we’ve putted off a lot of greens.

“It depends how severe the USGA wants to make this. But I foresee just like in ’05 watching some of the guys play ping-pong back and forth. It could happen. It’s more of a test. It’s going to be a great test and a great war of attrition this week. It’s going to be a lot of fun for all of us.”

Lowry actually missed the cut by a shot in 2014. “It was very tough around the greens,” he recalled. “Your iron play needed to be spot on. I remember really struggling on the grass around there with the grain, it being very difficult.

“Then I moved to Florida and I play on that grass week in week out, so I imagine it won’t cause me as much trouble as it did.. I know it will need good iron play and straight driving off the tee and to be decent around the greens.

“I feel the glass is always half full with me, that I’m a better player than I was in 2019. I always say you need to be patient in this game, to kind of wait for things to happen. I feel like I’m a different player now than I was back then. I’m quite excited about it.”

And Paul McGinley believes the course could suit Lowry. “He could chase it around there,” McGinley said. “He’s got a phenomenal short game and the ability to chip is really important there.

“One of the lowest ever recorded putting averages, he had it on the first few two day in Valhalla. It was just off the scale. So if he continues that putting, the golf course will suit him. A little bit of wind will suit him. The creativity.”

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