Lowry backs McIlroy for big 2025: ‘I think he is more determined than ever to come out firing next year’

Shane Lowry is backing Rory McIlroy to come out firing in 2025 after watching the Holywood star wrap up his sixth Race to Dubai and put a year of close calls behind him with victory in the DP World Tour Championship.

“Unfortunately for Rory, I think everybody looks at the glass half-empty,” said Lowry, who tied for third at Jumeirah Golf Estates to finish his season with eight top 13 finish in a row.

“I look at it glass half-full.  

“He’s had an amazingly consistent year. I've had a consistent year, but he's had consistent top three finishes. Mine are Top 15s.

“Like if he wins today, it will be four wins around the world. Obviously, he gives himself chances and he probably should have won the US Open, let's be honest, and he'd say that himself, but he didn't.  

“I think he is more determined than ever to come out firing next year, and obviously the Masters will be on the forefront as my mind and same as myself, he'll be looking towards the other big tournaments and The Ryder Cup.

“The career he's had so far is incredible. He has not dropped outside of the Top 50 in the World Rankings in the last 15 years or something. It's an absolute joke.  

“He's putting himself up there with the greats of European golf, not that he already wasn't and I'm sure he's got Monty's records in his sights as well.”

As for his own season, Lowry ended 2024 with a team win with McIlroy in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans as well as seven top 10s and 15 top 20s worldwide from 27 starts.

“I'm happy,” he told Meridian Media after his closing 68. “Look, I played really good golf over the last while, and last week, I bogeyed the last two to finish 12th or 13th or whatever it is and come off feeling sour about the whole week.

“It's nice it do that. It's nice to finish like that, especially going into a break now. There's a lot there at stake. A lot of valuable Ryder Cup points for myself and I get a few World Ranking points for it, as well.

“I feel like I'm leaving the golf course here in Dubai in a better position than I was this time last year, so pretty happy with myself. I think when I reflect on the season, I'm going to be pretty happy with that, too.  

“I feel like I would like to have won, and feel like I could have with the golf I've played but I showed this year that I still have a lot of go golf in me.”

He’s now looking forward to 2025 when he returns to the scene of his 2019 Major win for the Open at Royal Portrush as well as clinching his third Ryder Cup cap.

“It’s going to be great going back to Portrush,” he said. “Obviously very fond memories and it will be a different week than it was the last time.

“I think there will be obviously a lot for me to do, and I'll have to manage myself pretty good. I think it will be a little more difficult to come in under the radar than last time. I have huge things ahead.

“First and foremost we look to April and the Masters and look at the other majors after that, and forefront of my mind is Ryder Cup next year. I really want to be part of that side and I want to be part of a winning side. So I'll do everything I can over the next nine months to do that and hopefully get the job done.”

The majors, he admitted, remain his priority.

”Yeah, it's the golf I love and the tournaments I get out of bed for in the morning, and the reason I practise is those big tournaments,” said Lowry, who was tied sixth in the US PGA (where he shot 62 in the third round) and sixth in The Open.

“I feel like I gave a good account of myself in the majors this year and the big events. All going the right direction, and hopefully the future is bright.”