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Open champion Shane Lowry determined to drive on in 2020

Shane Lowry is hoping another strong showing at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship can be the platform...


Open champion Shane Lowry dete...

Sport

Open champion Shane Lowry determined to drive on in 2020


Shane Lowry is hoping another strong showing at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship can be the platform for a strong showing in a packed 2020 schedule. 

The Open champion won the Rolex Series event 12-months ago to kickstart a campaign which saw him land his first major and moved up over 60 places on the world rankings.

This summer Lowry is set to represent Ireland alongside Rory McIlroy at the Olympics in Tokyo and he's also aiming to make Padraig Harrington's team for the Ryder Cup.

"I couldn't really have envisaged what happened," he said of his 2019 success in Abu Dhabi.

"It was obviously really nice to get off to an unbelievable start here, winning one of the biggest events on Tour.

"This course, this tournament, against this field every year is a really, really difficult tournament to win and it obviously kickstarted an unbelievable season.

"I had not won for a few years and I think to win the way I won last year, as well. I led the whole week and then found myself four behind with seven to play and I showed a lot of character, a lot of determination and a lot of heart that day.

"I think that can only give you confidence going forward. Anybody who plays this game knows that a lot of it is built on confidence, a lot of form is built on confidence and that's what I gained from here last year.

Lowry knows he has a hectic year ahead, with his focus on trying to qualify for the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits:

"I have it in my head what I want to achieve this year and the main thing for me is to make that Ryder Cup Team. I've kind of set my schedule out, I've set everything out to do that.

"I think I need to just bring it back to basics and back to what I do best and that's just being the best version of myself every day and that's all I can do.

"I go out tomorrow, might be 72, it might be 62, but I know it's the best I can do and I've prepared as well as I can.

"I think if I do that for the whole season, I'll get to where I want to be."



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