New Irish hero faces pro dilemma
As Ireland celebrates arguably its most extraordinary winner in the country's glorious golfing history, it is time to reflect on how rapidly circumstances change.
No-one knows that more than burly 22-year-old at County Louth.
Having missed out on a 500,000 Euros first prize because of his amateur status, Lowry has to decide whether to cash in now or wait until he has played in the Walker Cup in September.
If he turns pro immediately, the player ranked 16th in the world amateur standings can start making use of his newly acquired two-year European Tour exemption by taking his place in the field for the this week.
Hold fire and Lowry gives himself the opportunity to try to help Ireland and Great Britain regain the Walker Cup from the United States. It's a tough decision - but it's not just the agents now swarming around him who are urging the pro option.
"If Shane really wants to play Walker Cup, he should (stay amateur)," said , Lowry's Ireland team-mate when they won the European Amateur Team Championship.
"But he has just won on the European Tour . . . . why does he need to stay amateur? He has just beaten a very strong field. There's no reason why he can't compete out here week in and week out."
Top Five Live summariser and former tour pro Jay Townsend, who walked and watched every step of Lowry's stunning weekend at Baltray is even more emphatic.
"He should strike while the iron is hot," Townsend told me. "He has everything to lose if he waits to play Walker Cup, especially with the fact that he was snubbed when he should have been on the last team. If he turns pro now he can cash in and make the most of this victory."
Lowry can already look forward to playing in the HSBC Champions Tournament, an event that now has WGC status, in November. By then, he surely will be eligible to receive prize money and the trip to Shanghai is a prospect he could never have contemplated before his stunning European Tour debut.
This brings me back to how circumstances change. Rewind to late October last year. Global financial markets were heading into freefall but European Tour golf appeared largely immune thanks to the golden deal struck with the Dubai Company Leisurecorp.
The 2009 calendar that was announced that day had its problems - one of the biggest was the Irish Open, which at the time had no home or sponsor. But deals were done as private and public sectors in Ireland recognised how important it is for the country to make the most of its current success in the game.
How ironic that the principle figure in this, Open and PGA Champion , missed the cut and the ultimate star was unknown outside amateur circles.
Never the less the investment was more than rewarded thanks to Lowry and the throaty, boisterous support he generated. This was a tournament that produced scenes that will be spoken of for decades to come.
Meanwhile, Leisurecorp have been taken over by the Dubai state. The man who masterminded the project, David Spencer, has stepped down and although the Tour say the five-year deal is safe the backdrop doesn't seem terribly encouraging.
There will be interesting questions to be put to the Tour hierarchy at this week's flagship championship at Wentworth. Expect answers that suggest its business as usual.
Much has happened off the course over the past week.
The Tour can point to success in resurrecting the Seve Trophy which is being rebranded at the and will feature a GB and Ireland team against Continental Europe at St-Nom-la-Breteche.
But how many of the big names who were paying such fulsome tribute to the stricken legend last autumn will be able to honour Seve with their presence in September remains to be seen.
Who knows though, Shane Lowry might even be there as one of Paul McGinley's GB and Ireland side - or maybe that is getting a tad too carried away after just one stunning week.
Either way you can bet your bottom Euro that tour bosses will point to Lowry's exploits as evidence that golf can still provide great value to sponsors even in these troubled and ever changing financial times.
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Comment number 1.
At 18th May 2009, Cuchullain wrote:I agree that he has to strike while the iron is hot. Justin Rose turned pro on the back of a very good and public performance in the Open Championship, but unlike Lowry, Rose had to graft when the invitations ran out. He was not a winner and did not gain effectively a two and a half year exempion.
Good luck to him.
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Comment number 2.
At 18th May 2009, twiselbridge wrote:Congratulations to Shane Lowry. What a wonderful performance under the most testing of conditions. Well done.
Re turning pro - Fill yer boots lad
Finally, fantastic result for Ireland and the new sponsor of the Irish Open, the mobile company 3, who have invested a huge amount, making a big commitment to Irish golf when the Iriah economy is under considerable pressure. Thanks to this result they will hopefully consider the money well spent. I will even change over to 3 myself!
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Comment number 3.
At 18th May 2009, goldwolf wrote:Turn pro now, as great as the Walker Cup is, it's not worth waiting for when he could quite possibly play poorly and have a totally forgettable cup. Go for it whilst form is good is my view.
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Comment number 4.
At 18th May 2009, lorus59 wrote:I am Irish myself and I sat up way past my bedtime here in Thailand and it was great to see Lowry winning. That said, he is only ranked 16th in the amateur rankings so maybe this is just a flash in the pan. If he turns pro now he can take advantage of his sudden fame from sponsors and endorsements. If he waits to play in the Walker Cup, by then his moment in the spotlight will have faded and maybe he will just be a journeyman golfer. So go for it now is what I would do.
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Comment number 5.
At 18th May 2009, Tano wrote:lorus59,
I'm certain that Shane Lowry is no 'flash in the pan'. He's been so consistent and impressive on the amateur circuit that I can say with quite alot of confidence that Shane will be contending for many more Tour titles in the future.
Also, there are so many amateur tournaments being played so often that is is very difficult to maintain a solid ranking. I wouldn't look into that too much.
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Comment number 6.
At 18th May 2009, kwiniaskagolfer wrote:Wait until after The Walker Cup. Surround yourself with good management around you, get fit, get your endorsements in order and plan your apprenticeship.
Jumping in at the deep end with no preparation will be a very risky proposition.
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Comment number 7.
At 19th May 2009, Ravey Dave wrote:There are good arguments both for and against Shane Lowry turning pro on the back of his stunning win at the Irish Open. The naysayers would say it may just be a flash in the pan, that life on tour is tough, that the standard on tour is consistently high week-in week-out, that he should serve his apprenticeship and hone his game in the amateur ranks.
Proponents would argue that he is already a plus five handicapper demonstrating that he knows how to play to a regularly high standard, that at 22 he is no school kid, and that he has just beaten a healthy field on the European stage and shown considerable bottle in doing so.
Amateur golf is an expensive business. With a two year exemption as a pro he could earn enough money to set himself up for life. Yes a Walker Cup victory would look good on a CV, but why turn down a job when you've just passed the interview with flying colours?
It's a personal decision which comes from talking to parents, friends, but particularly pro-golfers who have been through the mill (Andrew Coltart?). One victory does not a career make, but it's a very good start. I say go for it Shane.
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Comment number 8.
At 19th May 2009, uberman21 wrote:Shane Lowry, Irish, wins the Irish, Open, Danny Lee, New Zealander, wins in Australia and Pablo Martin, wins in Portugal. There may be something to be said for talented amateurs taking comfort from home (or very near home) courses and support, which along with a lack of tour grind and/or professional expectations enables them to elevate themselves for a week above their professional peers. But then what?
If the goal was to try and make it on tour anyway then the tour exemption and access to good support is a golden opportunity not to be sniffed at but it just has to be remembered that a win in one tournament does not make you the new Tiger Woods and that tour life is different. Pablo Martin is making a living this year, (currently 100th on the money list) but Danny Lee is finding it a bit harder out in the US and while he was the no.1 Amateur he's still in his teens. And Rory knows the value of these 'exhibition' tournaments :-) in the context of an individual career so his advice may well be the best.
If you ever wanted to make it then this is the opportunity to take.
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Comment number 9.
At 19th May 2009, Fairway_Metal wrote:Turn pro now I'd say. The tour is where he hoped to be after the walker cup and now he has 2+ years exemption. Reckon he should use it. How many of the current walker cup squad from either side will ever get to play in a wgc event? Not many I'd say. How many will be battling in q schools and mini tours? Most of them. Make the most of your fantastic achievement Shane.
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Comment number 10.
At 21st May 2009, Davey Bones wrote:I agree, fill your boots.
If this was a flash in the pan as his amateur ranking may sugest, then get the sponsorship and grab the money while it's there.
Many times a player surpasses his apparent level and never does it again so as this might be the case here, trouser the loot while you can.
If he gets money in the bank it will take some of the pressure off later if he needed to win because he missed a couple of sitters when the heat was on.
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