McDowell urges Lowry to turn pro

Graeme McDowell believes Shane Lowry must turn professional to keep his Irish Open buzz.

But he reckons it's "embarrassing" that Padraig Harrington is skipping the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Declaring himself 75 percent fit after shin splints forced him out of the 3 Irish Open, McDowell insisted that Lowry simply can't return to the amateur game.

A possible future stablemate of Lowry's at Horizon Sports, McDowell said: “The Walker Cup is a fantastic event but it’s a long time to be waiting, a very long time.

“I will be near impossible, I would say, to get himself back up to play amateur golf. What he’s done in winning the Irish Open is a nine out of 10 achievement for him at this stage of his career.

“The Walker Cup would be a four or five out of 10 achievement.  He’s got nothing more to prove in the amateur scene.”

McDowell believes it’s “embarrassing” for sponsors BMW that Harrington is not playing at Wentworth this week and puzzled by the Dubliner’s decision to “batter himself on the range.”

But he’s delighted for Irish Open sponsors 3 that Lowry’s win has given the event a massive boost.

He said: “I watched all it on TV and it was very dramatic. The finish and the result is just what the Irish Open needed.

“It needed an injection of life over the weekend and it got it. And it’s just unbelievable what Shane managed to achieve. I am very impressed by his game. He looked very polished for an amateur player.”

As for Harrington’s decision to not to play at Wentworth because he dislikes the greens and wants to peak for the US Open, McDowell said: “He’s got the discipline, selfishness, single-mindedness and call it what you want, to not come and play here. But it’s still a strange one.

“I guess it’s a touch embarrassing for the sponsors BMW and the European Tour that he’s not playing in our flagship event.

"Padraig’s obviously got things worked out better than most of us, and the Major Championships are what golf is all about and you have to try and be prepared the best you possible can for them.

“But you have to ask yourself what is Padraig doing this year? He’s not playing well. He looks like he is battering himself on the range and you have to ask yourself, what is he looking for.”

But former US Open champion Michael Campbell and Players Championship winner Henrik Stenson backed Harrington’s two-before-a-major schedule.

Campbell said: “He’s being selfish but then we all are guilty of that.  I know this is the flagship tournament for the European Tour but you have to think of yourself sometimes.”

Stenson added: “We all have to stick to a schedule and tournaments are not always going to get the best players.

“So while it may be disappointing he won’t be here this year, you cannot question Padraig’s reasoning.”