MEN'S OLYMPIC GOLF COMPETITION

August 1, 2024

Shane Lowry

Le Golf National

Ireland

Quick Quotes

Q. Are you happy with your round?

SHANE LOWRY: No. I gave myself a lot of chances in the middle of the round. Didn't convert them and then finished like that. I feel like it's probably the worst score I could have shot which is very frustrating.

Yeah, a couple of bad swings toward the end at the really wrong time but it is what it is. A long way to go and this golf course, yes, the scoring was low but you know, it's not easy in parts, and like showed, a couple of bad swings at the wrong time you never know what can happen but there's also a score out there. I feel like I'm playing golf well. Shoot a lower score tomorrow and put myself back in the mix a little bit.

Q. Do you think you'll have to do that?

SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, I am, it's funny because you're trying to play your way into the event and it's different for us because it's top three and that's it. I feel like I'm a long way behind third at the minute but golfer's a funny games and it can only take a good nine holes to get yourself back in the mix.

You're just trying to shoot the best score you can and that's all I try and do every day, anyway. You sit back after a round and you feel like there's a long way away to third but like I said, there's a long way to go, 54 holes and a lot can happen between now and Sunday evening.

Q. How different does the atmosphere feel out there, as opposed to the usual week-in, week-out? Any funny responses or anything, interactions?

SHANE LOWRY: A lot of Irish people out there today for me, which is pretty cool. I wasn't expecting it. I was expecting a little bit but the cheer on the first tee was, yeah, it was pretty cool, and it felt like it was at home. It was nearly off-putting a little bit, like wow, I wasn't expecting that, and I got goosebumps and I hit a really bad tee shot. But I'm not blaming them. It was my fault.

It was incredible out there, and Matthieu Pavon was two groups behind me, and you hear the French crowd cheering him on to every green, every tee. Being out there today shows you how big this tournament actually is.

Q. Overall, Ireland's performance so far?

SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, the biggest team we've had come to the Olympic Games. I was only in the camp for a little bit but great to see what everyone goes through to compete at this level. Very fortunate to be there to see Daniel win the Gold Medal the other night; that was a good moment.

I want to add to the tally of medals for my country. I have a long way to go to do that. Maybe I wanted that too much today. Hopefully tomorrow shoot a better score but overall, it's been pretty good.

Q. After a very different Olympic experience in Tokyo, do you feel like you got the full Olympic experience?

SHANE LOWRY: Tokyo just felt like a normal event during COVID. It was one of those where there was no crowd in the hotel and you weren't allowed to move anywhere and you weren't allowed to go anywhere.

Even here, the buzz around the place, eastbound in the hotel we're in, other teams, cyclists in there, just being around the whole thing.

And obviously I had an amazing experience last Friday getting to do what I did, and being in the camp for 24 hours there was a day I'll never really forget and I'll remember forever.

Yeah, certainly it's way different than Tokyo. I was out there today and I was enjoying every minute of it, and you know, part of me out there today was like, right, obviously I want to play well here but I really need to make sure I'm in L.A. as well.

Because you start to think, this tournament feels like a huge tournament out there today. It is. I think it's on the way to getting the credit it deserves.

Q. Does the pressure feel different?

SHANE LOWRY: No. I put probably the same, probably too much pressure on myself every day I compete. No, it's hard to know what you're going to feel before you go out because you can't control it, and I certainly felt like major butterflies, nerves, anxiousness, all before I went to the first tee and warmed up.

So yeah, that's good. That's a good thing. If you're competing at this level.

Q. Shoulders weren't sore the next day from holding up the flag?

SHANE LOWRY: No. It actually worked well because we were on the boat and the boat was moving. We were a little bit wet but other than that it was great.