Search icon

Golf

14th May 2016

Shane Lowry is doing the nation proud and his attitude to golf is certainly refreshing

Water off a duck's back

Patrick McCarry

“I’m not trying to hit perfect shots, just good golf shots. Play it as I see it.”

Shane Lowry wasn’t feeling too hot heading into The Players Championship at Sawgrass. One phone call later and he was good to go.

The Offaly native currently lies three shots behind leader Jason Day after two days of TPC in Florida.

He followed up a record-breaking back nine, during a round of 65, on the opening day and followed that up with a 68 during a rain-interrupted outing. He followed up a clutch bogey putt on 17 – after finding the water – with a superb, pitched in eagle on the 18th.

Lowry sits alone in second place behind the Aussie, who claimed the main prize here last year.

Speaking after his second sub-70 round at an infamously testing course, Lowry’s take on modern golf, and how to handle the pressures, was a breath of fresh air. He told reporters:

“I had a great chat with my coach, chatted with him this morning again, and just the same thing, just hitting all my targets, and going out there and trying to enjoy my golf as much as I can. That’s what I did today, and it was nice…

“I think most of what was going on was mentally. I think 95 percent of what was going on was mental. I’m managing to hole a few putts, as well, which is nice.

“It’s been a while since I’ve holed a few putts. Seeing my lines really well, and just trying to play golf with a bit of feel, and that’s what I used to do when I was a kid. Just kind of get back to that and play like that.”

From considering a Saturday night flight back to Ireland to going out with Day on the penultimate day of ‘the fifth Major’, it has been quite a turnaround for Lowry.

He goes off again this evening and will be aiming to play it as he sees it all over again.

Click snap

WATCH: Liverpool BOTTLED the title race 🤬 | Who will win the Premier League?