Shane Lowry missed the FedEx Cup Playoffs final season not as a result of he performed poorly however as a result of he didn’t play sufficient on the PGA Tour.
The Irishman performed in solely 18 occasions, missed the minimize simply 3 times, and but, he completed 78th within the FedEx Cup rankings—lacking out on the postseason by eight spots.
He’s altering that method in 2024, as he started his season final week at The American Categorical, the place he missed the minimize. Meaning he took residence zero {dollars} and acquired zero FedEx Cup factors.
“[Over] the previous couple of years, I began my season in Europe,” Lowry defined.
“Clearly, this yr I made the choice to return [to San Diego], play slightly bit on the West Coast, attempt to [earn] some much-needed FedExCup factors as a result of it’s going to be a fast season this yr.”
For the primary time since 2013, the PGA Tour switched again to a calendar-based schedule. The season started with The Sentry in Kapalua throughout the first full week of January. It’ll conclude Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, the place a revitalized East Lake Golf Membership will host the Tour Championship.
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Alas, Lowry, who made his PGA Tour season debut in mid-February final yr, carded a 6-under 66 on the North Course at Torrey Pines Wednesday. He bounced again after a tricky begin to his 2024 marketing campaign.
“I simply loved myself on the market,” Lowry stated.
“I made a few sloppy bogeys, however after that, I felt like I performed some pretty golf on the best way in, hit some pretty pictures, and type of rolled within the putts I wanted.”
The 2019 Champion Golfer of the 12 months started the day with a birdie, however he then coughed up a few pictures on his opening 9.
Having began on the again facet, Lowry made the flip slightly below par, taking pictures a 1-under 35 on the inward 9. However he then bogeyed the first, and all of the sudden, he was proper again the place he began.
“I used to be simply misplaced in my thoughts,” Lowry stated of his opening 10-hole stretch.
No matter was misplaced was rapidly re-discovered.
The 36-year-old from County Offaly birdied six of his final eight, vaulting him up the leaderboard and squarely into the combo at Torrey Pines.
He now sits two strokes behind Kevin Yu of Taipei, who had a birdie-free 8-under 64 to open the Farmers Insurance coverage Open.
However Lowry, after a rusty begin, regained his composure and settled in on a course he loves.
“I really like the West Coast of America; I really like coming over right here and enjoying. This has at all times been one in every of my favourite stops,” Lowry stated.
He ought to really feel happy understanding {that a} good spherical on Thursday will enable him to safe useful FedEx Cup factors. And understanding the schedule is now shorter than in years previous, these factors have grow to be way more useful.
Hopefully, Lowry’s change in method affords him a playoff berth and the inflow of money that comes with it.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. You’ll want to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.