Shane Lowry: the matchup, the stakes, the verdict

Shane Lowry will close out a four-week stretch of tournaments at the Cadillac Championship in Miami, aiming to get some momentum to bring with him to the season’s second Major – the PGA Championship – in a fortnight’s time. Shane Lowry has emerged this Friday as one of the stories drawing attention in Ireland.

Key facts

• Shane Lowry will close out a four-week stretch of tournaments at the Cadillac Championship in Miami, aiming to get some momentum to bring with him to the season’s second Major – the PGA Championship – in a fortnight’s time.
• Irish in the field: Shane Lowry is the only Irish player in the 72-man field.
• Lowry paired with Keegan Bradley for opening two rounds at the Cadillac Championship.
• Paired with Keegan Bradley for the opening two rounds on the Blue Monster course, Lowry has opted to skip next week’s Truist Championship at Quail Hollow (another $20 million signature event on the PGA Tour) and will hope to get a confidence boost ahead of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia.
• Lowry is the sole Irish player in the 72-man field, with no cut in Doral, after Rory McIlroy decided to sit it out.

What we know

Going deeper, Irish in the field: Shane Lowry is the only Irish player in the 72-man field.

On the substance, Lowry paired with Keegan Bradley for opening two rounds at the Cadillac Championship.

Beyond the headlines, Paired with Keegan Bradley for the opening two rounds on the Blue Monster course, Lowry has opted to skip next week’s Truist Championship at Quail Hollow (another $20 million signature event on the PGA Tour) and will hope to get a confidence boost ahead of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia.

More precisely, Lowry is the sole Irish player in the 72-man field, with no cut in Doral, after Rory McIlroy decided to sit it out.

It is worth noting that Lowry has been paired with Keegan Bradley for the opening two rounds (with a first round tee-time of 7.35pm Irish time).

By the numbers

At this stage, Currently 41st on the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup standings – the number to crack is the top-30 to make it to the megabucks Tour Championship – the missed cut in New Orleans last week where he paired-up with Brooks Koepka at the Zurich Classic came following a disappointing finish at the Masters and the RBC Heritage.

On a related note, LIV Golf seeks new investment as Saudi PIF confirms it will cease funding at the end of 2026.

Going deeper, World number one Scottie Scheffler has finished second in his two most recent outings at Augusta and Harbour Town and is the headline act in Miami on a course returning to the PGA Tour schedule for the first time since 2016, when Adam Scott won the then WGC-Cadillac Championship.

On the substance, Purse: $20 million (€17.1 million)/$3.6 million (€3.08 million) to the winner.

The wider context

On a related note, the course: Trump National Doral’s Blue Monster – 7,739 yards, par 72 – course used to be a regular tour stop but hasn’t hosted a PGA Tour event since Adam Scott won the WGC-Cadillac at the Florida course in 2016.

Going deeper, Originally designed by Dick Wilson and Robert von Hagge, and subsequently modernised by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner in 2014, the course features copious water hazards and strategic bunkering.

On the substance, the 18th is the course’s signature hole, with the demand on avoiding the hazard which runs down the left-hand side.

Beyond the headlines, Seven of the leading players from the world’s top-10 are playing, while eight of the leading 10 from the FedEx Cup standings are competing.

More precisely, There’s a big difference between being 35 and 45, I think.

The bottom line

• The course: Trump National Doral’s Blue Monster – 7,739 yards, par 72 – course used to be a regular tour stop but hasn’t hosted a PGA Tour event since Adam Scott won the WGC-Cadillac at the Florida course in 2016.
• The 18th is the course’s signature hole, with the demand on avoiding the hazard which runs down the left-hand side.
• At 35 you are looking at like a Rory McIlroy-type age where you’re still really in your prime.
• Searches spiking right now: Shane Lowry’s message to Brooks Koepka after teaming up with him at the Zurich Classic, Mixed fortunes leave Lowry eight off pace in Miami, ‘Nine holes with dad’ - Shane Lowry’s daughter proves she’s chip off the old block while demonstrating perfect swing, Cameron Young holds Cadillac Championship lead with Jordan Spieth hot on heels.