“There's pressure on him” – Shane Lowry gets candid about 21-yo Irish golfer trying for PGA Tour card at the DP World Tour Championship
Irish star Shane Lowry recently said he was impressed with fellow countryman Tom McKibbin after playing alongside him during the BMW PGA Championship. He added that the 21-year-old’s career was on a great trajectory.
Lowry is in Dubai this week for the DP World Tour Championship and carded a 1-under 71 in the opening round, placing him tied for 20th, four strokes back. McKibbin, who is playing here for the second time, also shot a 71 and was tied with Lowry and nine others.
During the post-round interview, Shane Lowry was asked to share a few words on McKibbin and the pressure of earning a PGA Tour card.
"There's pressure on him but I'll be happy," he said. "From the outside looking in, I don't know Tom too well; I see him around. But I think his career is on a great trajectory. He's got nothing to worry about, and as long as he keeps being himself.
"I played with him the final round of Wentworth, I was very impressed, my first tournament round with him. I think as long as he keeps being himself the next couple of years, he'll do great things in the game," he added.
For the uninitiated, McKibbin is 18th in the Race to Dubai standings and is in eleventh place in the DP World Tour Top Eligibility Rankings for the PGA Tour. Only the top ten will earn a card for the American Tour.
Currently, Thriston Lawrence (South Africa), Rasmus Højgaard (Denmark), Paul Waring (England), Niklas Norgaard (Denmark), Matteo Manassero (Italy), Jesper Svensson (Sweden), Thorbjørn Olesen (Denmark), Rikuya Hoshino (Japan), Sebastian Soderberg (Sweden), and Jordan Smith (England) are the frontrunners for the PGA Tour card.
When will Shane Lowry tee off at the DP World Tour Championship, Round 2?
Shane Lowry is paired with Jorge Campillo for the second round of the DP World Tour Championship. The duo will tee off on Friday, November 15, from the first hole at 10:50 a.m. local time.
The second round of the DP World Tour Championship will begin at 8:30 a.m. local time with David Ravetto and Sebastian Söderberg from the first tee.
Following the first round, Tyrrell Hatton and Rory McIlroy have taken a one-shot lead after shooting 5-under 67. Paul Waring, who won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship last week, is in solo third, while Alex Fitzpatrick, Adam Scott, Matt Wallace, and Rikuya Hoshino are tied for fourth at 3-under.