THE MODERATOR: Shane Lowry joins us now at the 2025 Ryder Cup. Welcome to your third Ryder Cup.
Let's go ahead and get started with questions.
Q. With regard to Rory, other than the obvious that he does on the golf course, can you speak to what he means to this Ryder Cup Team behind the scenes in the back rooms and whatnot?
SHANE LOWRY: I guess he's just kind of like the figure in the room. Well, not just him. There's probably him and Rahmbo are probably the two people that a lot of people would stand there and look towards for, like, leadership, and I think they both do a great job at that. The whole week -- well not just the whole week, the last few weeks, he's been like that. Look, I'm very close to him anyway. You know, I see what he's like all year. So it's different for me.
But I feel like a lot of guys look up to him, him and Rahmbo, in the team room, and they really are the kind of -- they lead from the front. You know, they did in Rome. I think they will do it this week, as well. Just to have one of the greatest golfers of your generation in your team room, as well, is pretty cool. I think everyone feels very lucky to have him on our team, yeah.
Q. When you get paired with someone, is it always explained to you why you're paired with them?
SHANE LOWRY: Yeah. Yeah.
Q. Do you remember have a say in the matter? Does it all make sense?
SHANE LOWRY: Well, we all get the texts or the conversation with our captain and vice captain about who would you like to play with, who do you not want to play with. That kind of goes without saying.
I think from what I know, like, our team is like pretty much we'll do whatever we're told. You know, we've got a lot of faith in Luke Donald and his backroom team to lead us in the right direction. Yeah, I guess, in foursomes, certain golf balls have a big say in it. Or if you're not comfortable playing with a golf ball, it is going to matter.
Yeah, you do have a little say, but I think for the most part, we are very much on the train of Luke makes the calls, we do what we're told and try and play as best we can.
Q. You're a player who wears your emotions on your sleeve, quite passionate. You talked about keeping it in in Rome, which didn't last too long. How important is it to do that this week, and how does that differ from your normal self?
SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, like obviously I've thought a lot about it over the last few weeks. I think it is important not to give the crowd too much to cling on to but it's also important to be yourself. You know, not try to be anyone different. I think what got me here is being myself, and I think I have to be the best version of myself this week.
Yeah, if my emotions do come out, it will be a good thing in certain ways. Yeah, I have thought it, and I feel like I'm ready. I feel like I'm ready to deal with anything that's given to me over the next few days. Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. This is what I practice for. This is what I live for. I've wanted this, you know, since we finished on the 18th green in Rome, that evening. This has been one of my goals is to be sitting here.
Yeah, and my other goal is to be sitting here Sunday evening with the team with the trophy, yeah.
Q. Just on that, did you ever wonder or do you ever worry over the last little while that you had nearly built this up too much in your head? Seems to have been very much at the forefront of your mind.
SHANE LOWRY: No. Like it's just a big deal for me. Like I am who I am. Like I said it there, I have to be myself. I am who I am. This is what I live for. This is what I play golf for now.
Not that I don't -- I don't not care about anything else, but it's like, literally, this is it, this is what I play for. As soon as we finish here Sunday evening I'll be thinking about Adare Manor.
It's just who I am. I've been around a long time in the game. I feel like I've achieved a certain amount of stuff that I've really been lucky to achieve, and I'd put this up there. You know, a win this week would be up there with all of that.
Then obviously to compete in Adare Manor, as well, would be incredible. Like I do build it up a lot. It might get in the way a little at the odd time at certain events. I think I'm mature enough and I'm good enough at keeping it sort of -- yes, wanting it a lot, but then keeping it in the back of my mind as well.
Q. What stayed with you longer, the feeling from Whistling Straits or the feeling from Rome?
SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, probably the feeling from Whistling Straits. That lasted right through to Rome and I kind of used it in Rome. Yeah, that was a pretty tough week. And obviously Rome was the complete opposite. Yeah.
Q. It's an interesting dynamic that all 12 Europeans play on the PGA TOUR and most of you guys live over here. I know you spend a lot of time both in Ireland and in Florida. What would you say is the biggest difference, not including weather, but the biggest difference sort of culturally between your time at home and when you're here?
SHANE LOWRY: Interesting question. I don't know, like the biggest difference? Look, I live in Florida. My kids go to school there. We're very lucky to live where we do. We have a great life. I love it. The golf's amazing. It helps me compete week-in and week-out on the PGA TOUR.
I think I would find it very hard to live in Ireland and compete the way I do on the PGA TOUR. But I do love getting home, and you know, specifically, actually, I loved -- the last couple of weeks playing on the DP World Tour were, like, amazing for us who are playing on this team to get back into, like, sort of the European Tour, European vibes, fully away from the PGA TOUR.
You kind of see what this is all of what we're playing for right here. Like it's not just playing for yourselves or your teammates. You're playing for, like, all of this. You know, playing The Irish Open and Wentworth, it was pretty cool to get the well wishes and all that when you're there.
Culturally, the biggest differences, I love being in Ireland, but I'm very lucky to have the life I have in Florida. That's kind of the way I look at it. Will we live in Florida forever? No, we will move home at some stage, but right now when I'm competing at the highest level on the PGA TOUR, I think there's no option but to live in Florida because the facilities and the weather are so good. It's necessary for me to live there.
Q. Some of the guys who have been in before you spoke about everybody having a role to play this week. Robert MacIntyre spoke about being on a mission. What's your mission? What's your role this week? What do you hope to bring to the European cause?
SHANE LOWRY: We obviously have one mission. We are only here for one thing and that's to win and be sitting here in front of you Sunday evening.
I think my role this week is obviously to play good golf, win points. But you know, I think when we're in -- when we're sitting over there in the team room and back in the hotel, I think I bring good energy, good vibes, a sense of lightheartedness to the team.
Honestly, the last two weeks, I've never laughed so much in my whole life. We've just had a great time. We've enjoyed getting ready together, preparing together, and I think I kind of bring some of that to everyone.
Yeah, but obviously that's no good to anyone if I don't play well and win points. There's no point being good fun if you don't perform. So yeah, I'm here to do both.
Q. Second day out of three playing with Rory and practice. If that were to happen, another partnership, you've had one go together and didn't work out. Unfinished business? Would you relish that?
SHANE LOWRY: We'll see.
Q. Virtually the same team this time around as last time. Did you feel there was a sense of if you could just hit the ground running this time, and that consistency is important, isn't it?
SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, I do think we have a lot of, like, obviously a lot of the same from the last time. Like pretty much the same backroom team. The same team, and you throw Rasmus in there instead of Nicolai, and yeah, there's a lot of continuity there. It's nice. It's comfortable.
We sort of arrived in Rome on the practice trip, and everyone is feeling each other out a little bit. You don't know what Luke is going to be like fully or his team.
Whereas this time, we arrived here last Monday, and you kind of know what you're getting. It has been nice. I feel like it's -- yeah, it flowed. It's flowed very well. Hopefully it's going to be maybe that little extra bit that we need to come out on top this week.
Q. In the aftermath of Whistling Straits, you spoke to us about the abuse toward the partners. How much is that a concern this week?
SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, look, that was my first Ryder Cup experience, and obviously my first away one, kind of unexpected going over there.
But when you're ready for something, it's never as bad. Like I think the New York fans have been great this week so far. Obviously it's practice days and it's a little bit more lighthearted. It is what it is. I played -- I played an away Ryder Cup and a home Ryder Cup, and I'm pretty sure Rome wasn't much fun for the Americans, either.
You know, I think you have to be yourself, do your own thing, try and use it as best you can. You know, allow it to help you as opposed to let it hinder you. I think we are all ready for it and we are all mentally prepared for it. We'll see.
Q. European fans might be a little bit quieter this week, but how do you feel when you hear the football-style chanting and do you have a favorite song?
SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, I thought they were pretty good last night at the Opening Ceremony to be honest. They were pretty loud. I was pretty happy with that.
They are good fun. There are some great songs. I think there's going to be -- you know, there's a lot of Irish people and there's a lot of European people that live in and around New York, and I'm pretty sure there's going to be quite a few Europeans here this week, which hopefully they can be as loud as they can. Hopefully we can give them something to cheer about. That's the thing. If we play good golf, the American crowd will be quiet; the European crowd will be loud. So it's up to us to do that.
Q. Rory said he dreamed of playing for Manchester United as a kid and having fans sing his name; he would never have expected it as a golfer. How does it feel for you?
SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, I probably dreamed of playing for Offaly in Croke Park and winning an all-Ireland medal. Look, I never thought I would be sitting here, let alone for the third time. To be walking on to that first tee tomorrow with not only your family and friends like a normal week but your country and your continent behind you, it's pretty special. My goal is to give them my best this week and hopefully be on the winning side.
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