Shane Lowry admits that European golf is in a significant transition.
Lowry is aware that the European team will be very different from the one at Whistling Straits 2021. They lost 19-9 to the oldest American squad.
It is expected that the Europeans will be younger in Italy. Many European stalwarts have left LIV Golf to be ineligible for Ryder Cup. Players like Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, and Paul Casey may have played their final competition as Europeans.
Lowry said that a youth movement in Europe is not a bad thing, speaking ahead of this week’s DP World Tour’s Hero Cup.
“I believe it was always going that way. If you look at The Ryder Cups in the past 10 years, I think the best players in the world were European players. I feel the same with Jon (Rahm), and Rory McIlroy. We, and the rest of us, have to raise our game so that we can win The Ryder Cup at year’s end.
The DP World Tour’s Hero Cup is a new event that mirrors the Ryder Cup. Ten teams of two will compete over three days against each other. There are many younger, more hungry Europeans who are looking to get on the team for the first time.
This format can give them a glimpse into September’s plans after a week.
“It’s great that the younger lads are here this week to be surrounded by the likes Francesco (Molinari), Tommy (Fleetwood), and myself and Tyrrell Hatton and other lads such as that. It’s great to have Paul McGinley, Jose Maria Olazabal, Edoardo Morinari and Luke Donald here. We feel like we have the bonds and strength of a strong team for September. I hope we can all rise to the occasion.
“And, as I said, one of my main goals for this year is winning The Ryder Cup. I hope to be part of that team and hoping it will win it back.”
