Tour allays Lowry's fears and insists plans for Irish Open at Mount Juliet "remain on course"
Shane Lowry of Ireland and caddie Brian Martin on the No. 2 tee during Round 3 of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Saturday, April 10, 2021.
The European Tour insists it remains on track with its plans to stage the Dubai Duty Free at Mount Juliet in July despite Shane Lowry’s fears that the event could be scuppered by mandatory hotel quarantine.
A European Tour spokesperson said: “We are in regular dialogue with the Irish Government in relation to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, as indeed we are with the respective governments in each of the countries we play.
“Preparations remain on course for this year’s tournament and we look forward to returning to Mount Juliet Estate in July.”
Lowry revealed following his tie for 21st in the Masters that his caddie Brian Martin would not be on his bag for this week’s RBC Heritage at Hilton Head as he dashed back to Ireland yesterday to avoid Thursday’s deadline so he could continue his vaccination plans.
With arrivals from countries such as the United States, France and Italy now required to complete a minimum period of 10 days of mandatory quarantine in a hotel, Lowry is worried the Irish Open could face a similar problem to last season when travel restrictions forced the European Tour to move the event from Mount Juliet in Co Kilkenny to Galgorm Castle Resort in Northern Ireland.
“Well, I think right now, if you look at what the Irish government are out there doing, I think the Irish Open is going to be in trouble because they're out there putting France, Germany, and the US on a quarantine for two weeks,” Lowry said. “So I don't know what's going to happen there.
“You know, it's pretty s**t for me, to be honest, because I know things are tough for everybody at the minute, but my coach and my team are going home tomorrow, and I probably won't see them until The Open.
“It’s not great because I want them over here for the big tournaments, the PGA and the US. Open. We'll see what happens. I don't know. Maybe there will be exemptions or something. I have no idea.”
While he admitted “things are tough for everybody”, Lowry’s complaints about the inconvenience of the quarantine are surprising given what the country has been going through for the past 12 months.
With three months still to go before the Irish Open and the vaccine rollout in full swing, it’s likely the situation will continue to evolve.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said yesterday that professional and elite athletes could receive an exemption from mandatory hotel quarantine, under plans being worked on by the Departments of Health and Sport.
However, it's understood the plan does not involve a full exemption from quarantine.
"I'm working closely with Minister Martin and Minister Chambers on this I'm aware that we have some big international events coming up soon,” Minister Donnelly said on RTE.
Lowry is currently based in the US but his caddie, his coach Neil Manchip as well as fitness coach Robbie Cannon and manager Brian Moran have all returned to Ireland.
“Who knows when I'll be able to go home to Ireland, if I'll be able to go home to Ireland,” said Lowry, who hinted he might not make it to Mount Juliet from July 1-4.
“I have no idea what my schedule is going to be leading up to The Open, but it's definitely going to be mostly over here. I don't know if I'll get back to play in Europe at all.”
