PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

May 23, 2021

Shane Lowry

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island

Quick Quotes

Q. Tell me a little bit about your round today.

SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, got off to a bit of an iffy start on the front nine, was making birdies and bogeys and only two pars on the front nine and I was 1-under, but I was pretty happy. You know, it's difficult out there, a different wind. Those holes 10 through 13 are really difficult. Even coming back downwind it's not easy.

I'm going to go away from the weekend -- I went away from the Masters like this, just a little bit more so this week, I'm going to go away from this weekend feeling what if, but that's a great feeling to have, feeling like I was close to having a great chance this week. I don't know what the leaders are going to do on the way in, but I think even 4- or 5-under might have some sort of a sniff if you finish on that. When Paddy chipped in on 14, I was like, ooh, Paddy has got a chance here. I was kind of trying to cheer him on and play my own game, but honestly playing with Paddy today was one of the best rounds of golf I've ever had. It was so much fun. The two of us had that coming off, we're obviously grinding it out to beat each other and trying to do well in the tournament, and it's just -- it was one of the best days I've had on the golf course. I played lovely golf again and very happy going into my week off now.

Q. Maybe he should pick himself for the Ryder Cup.

SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, well, he hasn't lost it, has he. He's still the ultra competitor. You know, he chipped in on 14. I was like -- and then he bombed a drive down 15. I was like, wow, if Paddy can make one or two on the way in, he's got a good chance here. Yeah, he's 50 in August, so God help those guys on the Senior Tour.

Q. I talked to you like a year ago about the Ryder Cup. I'm sure you will have many chances to talk about this today, but anything going on there?

SHANE LOWRY: Oh, no, look, I'm in the position I'm in. This is another good week towards it. It's always good to play well in front of him under the gun because I play a lot of golf with him, practice rounds, but for him to see me in competition was pretty nice, as well.

So yeah, look, I've got a lot of golf to play between now and then. Like I said a few weeks ago, there's another two major champions to be crowned the rest of this year. We've got a lot of big tournaments, a lot of good golf to play, and hopefully I can make that team, and like I always say, I don't just want to make the team, I want to go to Whistling Straits and I want to win the trophy. That's where my head is at this year, and I feel like I'd be a great part of the team if I do manage to get on it.

Q. What about what's going on out there, up and down --

SHANE LOWRY: It's up and down, the scoring was obviously very good early because the first few holes are playing easy and then those nine holes into the wind are playing very tough. So it's kind of -- yeah, like 16 is obviously a good chance, but you need to drive the ball well. I drove the ball very well today and all week, so you do need to drive the ball well to have any chance of doing -- of going at the flags.

So yeah, it's going to be -- I'm looking forward to watching it.

Q. As you look at the top of the leaderboard, who could make it?

SHANE LOWRY: It's so hard to know. It's hard to call it. It would be unbelievable for golf if Phil did it. It would be a great story. But we'll just have to wait and see.