Rory McIlroy backing Shane Lowry to deliver perfect ending to Irish Open like no otherLowry held a four-shot lead after the opening three rounds of the Irish Open at Doonbeg Sun, 13 Sep, 2026 – 13:43Brendan O’Brien, Doonbeg
Rory McIlroy should be back home in London by the time the Amgen Irish Open wraps on Sunday evening, but he is hoping Shane Lowry can get the job done and win their national tournament on the back of an historic and surreal week.
The reigning Masters champion clocked out at Trump International Golf Links and Hotel a good hour before Lowry and Javoc Skov Olesen teed off, and after a final round of 67 that left him on just one-under par for a tournament he won 12 months ago.
McIlroy’s wife Erica and daughter Poppy had flown in to the UK earlier on Sunday morning. Add in the fact that his local club Wentworth will host the BMW PGA Championship this coming week and he was doubly eager to get going.
Before he left, he was asked for his thoughts on Lowry’s prospects and an event played at a venue owned by the US president who flew in on his Marine One helicopter on Saturday and is due to take in the golf in person here on Sunday afternoon.
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“It would be a great way to cap off. I said at the start of the week, the president being here brings more eyeballs to the Irish Open. So in a way, that’s a good thing. If Shane goes on to win today, that will bring even more attention in a good way. So, obviously, we’re all hoping that that’s what’s going to happen.
“It would be an amazing way to end the week, and it would be an amazing thing for Shane. He would tell you himself that he has been struggling for most of the year after he didn’t win at the Cognizant. So, yeah, look, we’re all cheering him on, and hopefully he gets it done.”
Lowry let slip a golden opportunity at that PGA event in the spring, and the Dubai Invitational got away from him earlier in the season too, but McIlroy spoke of who he attempted to contextualise that for his good friend in the aftermath.
“I said to Shane that in 2014 I blew a four-shot lead at the Cognizant, lost in a playoff, and then ended up winning two majors that year. So like, don’t let one bad result get to you. But sometimes it’s hard not to let it get to you. It sort of knocks your confidence a little bit.
“But he’s been chipping away, and he’s slowly getting himself back into some really, really good form, and obviously a combination of this week where he’s where he’s played well, fed off the crowd.
“Look, he would admit himself it hasn’t been his best season, but this would be a great way to get everything back on track.”
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