Lowry signs new sponsorship deal
Shane Lowry continues to cash in on his Open success and signed a new “sponsorship and partnership” deal with global executive advisory giants Teneo.
The Offalyman (32) inked a new five-year deal with Srixon and Cleveland Golf believed to be worth at least $10 million back in October and more big money announcements are imminent as his deals with the likes of Kingspan, Immedis and Bank of Ireland all run out at the end of this year.
The terms and duration of the Teneo deal have not been revealed but it will not be lost on Lowry’s management that Pádraig Harrington reportedly earned $12 million from a three-year deal with FTI Consulting, another major US business advisory firm, after his third major win in 2008.
"We are delighted to have Shane serve as a global brand Ambassador for Teneo," said Tipperaryman Declan Kelly, the Chairman and CEO of Teneo who was executive vice-president of FTI until 2011.
"He is one of the most exciting and popular players in the world today and will be a great asset for our firm as we continue to expand and grow our operations around the world."
Lowry, who has already signed up to play in the Hong Kong Open, the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship and the Saudi International in Saudi Arabia early next year, sounded happy with the new arrangement.
"I am really excited about entering into this global brand partnership with Teneo," he said in a statement. "The truly global nature of Teneo's business, allied to the company's strong Irish roots and heritage, is something that really appeals to me.”
Lowry will begin his 2020 push for a Ryder Cup spot when he returns to action in the rescheduled Hong Kong Open from January 9-12.
The Open champion will join US Ryder Cup star Tony Finau in headlining the 61st edition of the event at Hong Kong Golf Club before defending the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship the following week.
"I'm really excited about going back to play the Hong Kong Open again,” said Lowry, who hasn’t played in Fanling since 2010. "I haven't played in Hong Kong for a few years now, so it's great to be going back.
"The Hong Kong Open will be my first event of 2020 and I'm hoping to use the tournament to kickstart what will be a very important year for me as I try to make the European Ryder Cup team next September and build on the success I enjoyed this year."
The $1 million Hong Kong Open was initially scheduled from November 28 to December 1 but postponed by the European Tour due to social unrest in the city.
As a result, Lowry won't be able to accrue European Ryder Cup points in Hong Kong as the European Tour will not sanction the rescheduled event due to a clash with the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg.
However, he will be able to rack up points towards the Ryder Cup World Points List.
He has made a slow start to the Ryder Cup race since it began at the BMW PGA Championship in September.
His best finish from his first seven starts is tied 11th at Wentworth and he will be keen to shoot up the standings.
After his Abu Dhabi defence, the world No 19 will join Finau, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, defending champion Dustin Johnson and World No 1 Brooks Koepka in the contentious Saudi International before crossing the Atlantic for a critical run of events on the PGA Tour.
After a two-week break on his return from Saudi Arabia, he will make his first PGA Tour appearance of 2020 in the WGC-Mexico Championship from February 20-23 before the Florida Swing.
He has yet to decide on the Honda Classic, but if he repeats last year's schedule, he would skip the trip to PGA National and play the Arnold Palmer Invitational before heading to Sawgrass for The Players Championship.
