DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

November 14, 2024

Shane Lowry

Jumeirah Golf Estates, Earth Course

Quick Quotes

Q. Considering a lot of holes are playing over par, a round of 71 to start you off is a very solid effort

SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, it looks like the scoring is not as good this year as it has been. The rough is pretty penal this year. Maybe that's the difference. I felt like I played good enough to shoot sort of, you know, 67 or 66 today.

But I burned the edge a lot early on, and then the hole got smaller from there. I struggled, really. But I felt like I played great golf again today. 1-under is not too bad.

Q. That 9-footer for par on 17 was an important putt.

SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, it was. If I holed the putt on the last, I would be delighted with myself here, but it is what it is. Onwards and upwards to tomorrow and try to shoot a decent number.

We'll see what happens in the afternoon. This course historically does get easier as the wind picks up and actually helps you on some holes. We'll see how we go.

Q. Best opening round of your last three starts here in Dubai.

SHANE LOWRY: Normally, you get someone shooting 8-under the first day. The rough is brutal. You get in there, it's very hard to control your ball. You sometimes can't even get it out. Yeah, that's nice. It's nice to play golf like that. It's frustrating sometimes to play golf where if you shoot 5-under you're not that happy.

So if you shoot in the 60s today you'll be very happy, and I think that's the way golf should be.

Q. Last week, 21 birdies and a couple of eagles. A lot of good stuff going on?

SHANE LOWRY: Has been all year. I'm not too worried. I'm okay. I feel comfortable with my game and I feel comfortable that I can go out there and give it a go the next few days.

Q. You've said to me in the past you'd trade in quite a number of mediocre weeks to have a good one. A lot of consistency but you'd probably prefer to have a couple of really good weeks?

SHANE LOWRY: Give me one good week over all the average weeks. We'll see. This is my last week of the year, last week for a while. Give it everything I have over the next few days and see what happens.

Q. Tom McKibbin is trying to get his PGA TOUR card for next season. A bit of pressure but he's had a really good season, hasn't he?

SHANE LOWRY: There's pressure on him but I'll be happy -- from the outside looking in, I don't know Tom too well; I see him around. But I think his career is on a great trajectory. He's got nothing to worry about, and as long as he keeps being himself. I played with him the final round of Wentworth, I was very impressed, my first tournament round with him.

I think as long as he keeps being himself the next couple of years, he'll do great things in the game.