Lowry Defending Zurich Classic Title with McIlroy, Despite Masters Win
In an exclusive interview with RTE.ie, Irish golfer Shane Lowry has revealed that he was pleasantly surprised to be defending his Zurich Classic of New Orleans title with Rory McIlroy, despite McIlroy’s recent Masters win. The Offaly native admitted that he didn’t think McIlroy would be in New Orleans to defend their title, regardless of his result at the Masters.
According to RTE.ie, Lowry, whose final round 81 at Augusta saw him finish four-over par, was rooting for his good friend as McIlroy fulfilled his lifelong ambition of winning all four majors. McIlroy’s dramatic play-off win over Justin Rose earlier this month marked a significant achievement, with the world number two from Hollywood ending his 11-year wait for a Masters title.
As reported by RTE.ie, Lowry told reporters on Wednesday that he had confided to his caddie, Darren Reynolds, that the golfers would be lucky to play in Louisiana. "If things didn’t go his way [at the final round of the Masters], I don’t think he’d want to be here, and I thought if things did go his way, he’d want to be somewhere else," the 38-year-old said. "But I’m happy he’s here."
McIlroy, on the other hand, expressed his enthusiasm for defending their title, as quoted in the RTE.ie article. "We’re defending a title. We had so much fun last year here," the new Masters champion said. "Obviously, it’s important for me to honour that commitment." McIlroy has enjoyed a successful year, with three victories already, while Lowry has a trio of top-10s in nine starts.
In the aftermath of his Masters win, McIlroy revealed that he received congratulatory messages from notable figures, including US presidents past and present, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, as reported by RTE.ie. "I spoke to two presidents the day after, which was pretty cool," he said. "Just people reaching out from all walks of life, whether it be sports, entertainment, culture. Just all of it. People that you would never even think that would watch golf or would know what’s going on, that was very, very humbling, I guess."
The Zurich Classic of New Orleans will mark a significant test for the duo, as they look to defend their title against a competitive field. With McIlroy riding high on confidence after his Masters win, and Lowry seeking to build on his consistent form this year, the tournament promises to be an exciting event. As RTE.ie reports, fans will be eagerly watching to see if the duo can recapture their winning form and successfully defend their title.
