Shane Lowry - riding the wave

Shane Lowry gives surfing a try. Shane Lowry loves a laugh but he looks to be enjoying himself more than ever in a photo shoot for his redesigned website shanelowrygolf.com. Captured on a road trip with pals to the west of Ireland, he’s seen surfing, wolfing oysters, skulling pints, hurling, driving bumper cars and generally having a good ol’ time.

Shane Lowry behind the wheel.As he says on the website: “I love the simple things in life but I also enjoy facing a new challenge every now and again - like trying surfing off the west coast of Ireland this summer. I don’t think I’ll ever be a pro-surfer but it was great craic. On the other hand, some things I only need to ever do once, like trying oysters. Definitely not for me! But at least I tried it, and that’s what life is all about.

“Ireland is a place that welcomes you in without even trying.  Maybe it’s our social nature or the amazing scenery or the buzz of simply going for a pint.  Maybe it’s the craic, that undefinably feeling that embodies Irish fun. Whatever it is, and despite all the rain, I’m proud to be from one of the most beautiful places on earth.”

Making the 2014 Ryder Cup team is a goal but his sights are set on the ultimate goal - winning a major.

“Competing against the best in the world is one thing, beating them is another.  I’ve got two tour wins under my belt and I’m still working my way up the world rankings. It’s every golfer’s dream to win a Major and I’m no different. I’ve proven to myself I have what it takes to beat the best in the world - I just need to keep learning from the experience of every tournament I play and continue to work hard.”

Lowry has seven big events still to play this season. Starting at this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, he then heads to Vilamoura to defend his Portugal Masters title before taking in the four Final Series events on the European Tour.

He then ends his year with his debut in the ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf alongside Graeme McDowell in Melbourne.

Whatever about the huge sums of money on offer, there are also big world ranking points at stake and at No 84 in the world, Lowry will be hoping to end 2013 inside the Top-50, setting up an even more exciting road trip for 2104.

Shane Lowry