Shane Lowry has opened up on playing alongside LIV Golf star Phil Mickelson during the final round at the Masters this year, having struggled at Augusta National across the weekend.
Shane Lowry expressed that the most memorable aspect of his disappointing Masters experience was playing the concluding round with Phil Mickelson, which he described as “fun.” This is in contrast to his earlier statement where he admitted feeling intimidated by the accomplished six-time major champion.
The Ryder Cup player couldn’t shoot under par in any rounds following a 74 in the final round to end at eight-over par. However, the Irish golfer did get the consolation of watching three-time champion Mickelson up close on the last day as he made his 101st cut in Majors.
Lowry has previously had the opportunity to play alongside Mickelson, and in 2020, he openly acknowledged that it was the first and sole instance where he felt intimidated on the golf course. However, it appears that his perspective has now shifted, as he showered praise upon the accomplished two-time Masters champion.
Later on, the winner of the 2019 Open expressed, “Phil is great. I really enjoy playing golf with Phil. He made some amazing shots that I just loved watching as a spectator more than anything else.”
Upon witnessing the draw last evening, my anticipation to partake in a Masters Sunday alongside him was invigorating. He truly lived up to his esteemed reputation, showcasing his prowess through remarkable shots. One shot in particular, taken from amidst the trees on the 8th hole, was a daring move that only he would dare to attempt, let alone successfully execute. It was an enjoyable experience indeed. However, the world No.36 expressed dissatisfaction with his own performance at Augusta National, having accumulated a total of 19 bogeys.
Lowry expressed his disappointment, saying, “It wasn’t great. I’m a bit let down, to be honest. I played decent golf all week, but I made quite a few bogeys. They weren’t major mistakes or anything, just a lot of bogeys. This week is usually the most important one for me, so I’m disappointed that I couldn’t perform better.”
Hopefully, I still have a few more years ahead of me to continue my efforts here. However, that chapter has come to an end. I will now return to the starting point and carefully evaluate my options for the upcoming week as I prepare for Hilton Head.
In 2020, Lowry shared his experience of playing alongside Mickelson at the Wells Fargo Championship. He revealed that one of the rare occasions he felt intimidated on the course was when he played with Phil Mickelson at Quail Hollow in Charlotte. Specifically, he played with Mickelson on a Saturday and upon completing his round, he confided in his coach Neil about feeling a distinct change on the golf course. The presence of a massive crowd made him perceive the atmosphere differently.
Phil was doing his thing, shooting seven under, while I managed to shoot level par, which was just average. It felt a bit strange and somewhat intimidating. After all, Phil is such a big star and someone I’ve admired for years.
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