Can the Lowry brothers pull off Mullingar-US PGA double?

Defending champion Alan Lowry pictured with his brother Shane (2008 winner) at the launch of the Mullingar Electrical sponsored 2016 Mullingar Scratch Cup to be played over the August Bank holiday. Also in the picture are Peader and Ann Marie Conlon (sponsor), Michael Donnellon (President, Mullingar Golf Club) and Gerry Austin (Captain, Mullingar Golf Club). Picture by Pat Cashman

They did the double last year with Alan wining the  Mullingar Electrical Scratch Trophy and Shane taking the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. But can the Lowry brothers pull it off two years running with Esker Hills star Alan defending his crown in the 54th running of the event from Sunday, July 31 to Monday, August 1 as Shane chases the US PGA title at Baltusrol?

It’s now 53 years since the great Joe Carr won the first staging of this 72 hole stroke event back in 1963 but the Lowrys are the third set of brothers (Frank and Mark Gannon and Des and Val Smyth) to join notable winners that includes Rory McIlroy, Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley.

Liam Grehan and Gareth Carr will be leading the charge in pursuit of the first ever homegrown winner of the event.