Rory McIlroy singing Don't Stop Believin' the perfect soundtrack to Irish duo's PGA Tour boost
'Reinjecting a little bit of that fun back into it can help'
Rory McIlroy couldn't have chosen a better song to belt out after teaming up with Shane Lowry to claim their latest PGA Tour titles.
The victorious McIlroy did a decent job on stage when, backed by a live band, he started into the 1980s anthem Don't Stop Believin'.
And the overjoyed Lowry let his partner take centre stage, as was the case for most of the week in New Orleans at the Zurich Classic as they came from behind to force a play-off on the 18th hole and then secure victory on the first extra hole.
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry prize money from Zurich Classic of New Orleans win
They were the top seeds at what is a low-key event on tour, given the team aspect.
But make no mistake this triumph - McIlroy's landmark 25th on the PGA Tour, Lowry's third and his first since winning The Open in Portrush - was an important one for both.
For McIlroy, it was a big confidence booster with the remaining three majors of 2024 coming soon and in quick succession, and after the disappointment of Augusta and a poor run of finishes since his last win in Dubai in January.
Weirdly, it meant nothing to Lowry in terms of world ranking points - in fact he dropped one place to 40th because it wasn't a world ranking event.
But there were FedEx points on offer - 400 apiece for the winners - and that has propelled the Clara man from 41st to 12th in the standings (McIlroy moves up to 15th) while also getting him into the three big money PGA Tour signature tournaments this year.
He had been depending on invitations for after falling out of the world's top 50 in February - but now he is control of his schedule throughout the summer and as he plots his way to a first-ever Tour Championship appearance.
"That's great because I wasn't going to be in Quail Hollow," said Lowry, referring to next week's Wells Fargo Championship.
"I was hoping to get an invite for Memorial and Travelers, I really didn't know what was going to happen.
"I knew I needed to make up some FedExCup points, and this gets me in those, and it means I can plan my schedule now.
"With family stuff and my wife and kids going back to Ireland in the summer, it means I really don't have to stay over here and grind it out too long.
"I can do more of what I feel like I wanted to do. It's freed me up a lot this summer.
"Hopefully we can both kick on now. We've got three majors left. Hopefully we can get one each, or maybe two and one."
And crucially for McIlroy, the world's number two, his great friendship with Lowry has brought out a welcome fun aspect to the game he excels at.
"The reason that Shane and I both started to play golf is because we thought it was fun at some stage in our life," he said.
"I think sort of reinjecting a little bit of that fun back into it in a week like this week, it can always help.
"To play the sort of golf we did coming down the stretch when there was a little bit of pressure, I think that'll stand to us, also.
"But yeah, I've always felt like I play my best golf when I'm enjoying myself, and it's hard to not enjoy yourself when you're out there walking the fairways with Shane."
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
