Lowry on the rise again: "I’ve got my mojo back"

ST. LOUIS, MO - August 11: Shane Lowry hits his tee shot on the 13th hole during the third round of the 100th PGA Championship held at Bellerive Golf Club on August 11, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Montana Pritchard/PGA of America)

Shane Lowry believes he’s got his mojo back as he continues his quest to return to world’s top 50 by the end of the year.

While two late bogeys cost him crucial FedEx Cup points and he slipped to tied 12th in the US PGA, the Offaly man headed to the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro yesterday with a spring in his step.

A top-five finish may be enough to catapult him into the top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings who keep their cards on Sunday.

But Lowry is looking at the bigger picture and made getting back into the world’s top 50 with a strong finish to the European Tour season his priority.

"I feel like I can get back in the top 50 in the world that way,” Lowry insisted. “I feel like I have got my mojo back and I have a bit of confidence more than anything else.

”I will go to Greensboro next week looking to contend as opposed to most of the year, going to try and make cuts." 

He’s reluctant to say that his split during The Open with long-time caddie Dermot Byrne, now with Julian Suri, is the reason for he’s playing well and enjoying the game again.

"You have doubts in your own head, and you have people start doubting you,” Lowry said.

"And it's a lonely game and a tough place when you are not playing well. But when you are back, and you are competing, there is no better place in the world to be. 

“That's the reason why we endure days like Carnoustie and things like that.  I feel like I am back to myself, be it the caddie change or whatever that might be it. 

"I am very slow to say that, because Dermot was unbelievable to me and we are still great friends.

We spoke on the putting green before we went out and I wish him very well in what he does, and I am sure he wishes me well too."

Byrne hung around after Suri finished his round on Sunday and approach the scorer's area to wish Lowry well on his performance.

It wasn't quite what he had in mind but after moving up seven spots to 81st in the world to 139th in the FedEx Cup standings, he believes he can contend in Greensboro

"That's three weekends in a row right up there, back where I feel I belong," Lowry said. "I have to go to the Wyndham Championship now and try to get myself back up for that, which might be a little bit difficult over the next couple of days but I have to now. 

“I am playing the golf to compete again, and that's what I'll do."

As for his brother Alan, who is set to return to his day job next week, Lowry is in no hurry to appoint new caddie.

"Alan has a full-time job in Deloitte," he said. "And we are very lucky he was able to do these four weeks. He is going to come next week, and then if I get in the FedEx, I will have to try and get someone for that, which I don't think will be too hard.

"If not I am going to have about five or six weeks off and then I will weigh up my options.

"I think I am going to play it out until the end of the year and then see if I can get someone I want or I like."

Beaming, he added: “It is tough because it is like trying to find a girlfriend or a wife —someone you get on with— and is single!

"I am very happy with what I am doing now, and I think there's a possibility I might play in Portugal, and if I do, Neil Manchip might caddie for me. Alan might caddie in the Dunhill because he was due to come that week anyway. There is no mad rush."

As for Sunday’s seven-minute delay on the 16th for a ruling he didn’t agree with, Lowry’s playing partner Justin Thomas had his back.

"It had nothing to do with Shane," Thomas said of his visible annoyance at the time. "The rules officials were having a hard time coming up with a ruling. 

“They were kind of looking at each other and saying, well, what do we do. And Shane's like, look, just tell me if I get a drop or not...

"He wanted to make sure he got the right ruling because he was still in a position to finish really high in this tournament."

Lowry enjoyed Thomas' company on a day when they were both vying with Woods for a major

"We said when we signed our cards, it was great fun for a while and this and that.  We were joking how good our better ball score would have been today."