HORIZON IRISH OPEN

September 7, 2023

Shane Lowry

The K Club, Ryder Course

Quick Quotes

Q. 68, 4-under, give us your verdict on your play today?

SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, I was pretty happy. Played nice and draw the ball well and my iron play was good and rolled a couple putts in. 68 is not bad around here. The rough is thick, and yeah, it's tight fairways, so the greens were good. Lovely this morning and I managed to roll a few in, so it was nice.

Q. How exciting is the next month, playing in your home open, the BMW PGA and then The Ryder Cup?

SHANE LOWRY: Outside of major golf, it doesn't get much bigger or better. I would argue that the Ryder Cup is up there, anyway, with that.

But yeah, here this week, half an hour, 40 minutes from where I grew up, playing in my home tournament and then I get to go to defend at Wentworth next week, and then I prepare the week after to play in The Ryder Cup; it's kind of what dreams are made of. When you're a kid growing up, this is what dreams are made of and I'm trying to embrace it as much as I can.

Q. You acknowledged you've not been at your brilliant best this year; how confident are you feeling going into The Ryder Cup?

SHANE LOWRY: I feel like I've not been far away. Never felt like I was too far away this year. I'm happy I'm on the team and I feel like I can add a lot to the team and I feel like when it comes to Rome, I'll be ready.

Q. You won 14 years ago as an amateur. What are your takeaway from day No. 1?

SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, I hit the ball really well today. I was very pleased with how I got my way around the golf course. It's not an easy golf course. Happy with my day's work, and get to go home to my own house and put the feet up and watch some golf this afternoon, tomorrow morning, and get out there tomorrow afternoon and get after it again.

Q. The good news you got about being on the European Ryder Cup Team does that free you up to play some golf and find some form?

SHANE LOWRY: I mean, yes, and it also is, you know, you can -- The Ryder Cup is very close to us. If you're thinking too much about it -- you need to focus on these week, this week and next week and try to set some goals for these weeks and achieve those and so when it comes to Rome, we prepare for that.

I think I did a great job the last couple of days, and today getting ready to play this tournament and I'm very happy with how today went and looking forward to tomorrow.