Par-fives key for Lowry as he dreams of green jacket

Shane Lowry during a press conference prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Monday, November 10, 2020. Picture: Augusta National

Shane Lowry knows he must play the par-fives better if he’s to match the thrill of winning The Open on home soil by becoming Irish golf’s first Masters champion.

The Clara man (33) makes his fifth Masters appearance desperate to improve on a record that includes three missed cuts and a best finish of tied 39th in 2016.

"If I could ever top Portrush? I think, I'll struggle,” he admitted. “But if I have a chance, it will be around here. To be the first Irishman to ever wear the green jacket would be pretty special. That's probably one of the only things that could top it. I think to wear a green jacket would be just very, very special. You know, I think they will be on par. We'll just wait and see.”

While Darren Clarke tied for eighth in 1998 and Pádraig Harrington was joint fifth in 2002 and 20008 and tied eighth in 2012, Rory McIlroy’s fourth place finish in 2015 is the best Masters performance by an Irish player.

“Only one Irishman had won a major up until 2007, Fred Daly,” Lowry said when quizzed on Ireland’s Masters drought. “So we've punched above our weight over the last 12, 13 years, but before that we didn't really.  You never know, hopefully this year is our time.”

As for the weight of expectation that comes with winning a major, he admits that while he’d “dearly love” to win another one, he’s not obsessed.

“It’s hard to win them because the top of world golf is so strong at the minute but if I put myself in a position, I know I can get the job done on a Sunday,” he said, buoyed by his 11th place finish in the Houston Open.

“For me, especially, you need to come out with your best golf and you need to get your breaks along the way and hope that the top two or three players in the world don't bring their A Game, as well.”

Just one-under for the par-fives since making his debut in 2015, he knows where he has to improve.

“This is my fifth Masters, and I don't think I've ever shot too many great rounds around here,” said Lowry, whose first round 68 in 2016 is his lone sub-par score. 

“I’m hoping the time of year kind of changes my luck around here and I am probably coming in with a bit more form than I ever really have. I've never played the par-fives well around here, and everybody knows, Augusta, you need to play the par-fives well to shoot a decent score.  

“I kind of have my eye a little bit on those this week, and hopefully I can get out there Thursday and get off to a good start.  And look, you never know what can happen then.”