Shane Lowry's cunning plan to become a Dad and follow in the footsteps of Masters champion Danny Willett is off to the perfect start. Congratulation are in order — his wife Wendy has given birth to the couple's first child, baby Iris.

The Clara ace made the news public on Instagram and Twitter today, posting a picture of an Irish rugby jersey next to a mini jersey with the message, "Myself and baby Iris are all set for the rugby tomorrow. Can't wait to show my little girl her first rugby match. #COYBIG"

Willett was the last player to register at Augusta National last year following the birth of his first child and went on to win the green jacket. 

Lowry joked at the end of last season that he'd love to follow in Willett's footsteps.

"I am going to take a few weeks off when we are having the baby and I will be back for Augusta and hopefully I can do what Danny Willett did this year,” he said in Dubai.

Could lightning strike twice? Lowry is 80/1 with Paddy Power to become the first Irishman to win the Masters next month.

Given the happy news, he'd probably happily settle for an Ireland win againt Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Friday night followed by a month of uninterrupted sleep between now and the first major of the season.