Shane Lowry insists he can’t take his foot off the pedal if he is to make Padraig Harrington’s Ryder Cup team for Whistling Straits next year.
Lowry, 32, propelled himself into the elite bracket in European golf with his Open triumph in Portrush in August.
But he has reiterated his belief that because he is close to Harrington, he won’t receive one of the three captain’s picks that the Dubliner has been granted by the European Tour for the clash on American soil.
The Ryder Cup points race begins at the BMW Championship in Wentworth on Thursday – a venue where Lowry has done well in the past, having finished as runner-up to Rory McIlroy five years ago – and ends after the same tournament a year from now.
“It’s still my main aim,” said Lowry of the possibility of Ryder Cup qualification for the first time.
“If I’m in with a chance to qualify, I feel now that I’m in the best position I’ve ever been in to go and take it.
“However, I honestly believe I’ll need to have a Ryder Cup place in my own hands come September 2020.
“Even though Padraig Harrington is the captain of the European side, I’m not expecting any favours.
“Padraig is a good friend and I’ve learned a lot from him over the years, but I think I’ll struggle to get a captain’s pick. I really do.
“You must play better than anyone else, so no-one can accuse you of not being there on merit.
“Padraig wouldn’t take too kindly to me referring to him as my Dad or anything – but I know I’m going to have to make the team off my own steam and not rely on a captain’s pick.”
It has been a long-held ambition of Lowry’s to make the European Ryder Cup team.
Four players will make it through points earned in Race to Dubai-counting events, while five players will qualify off the world points list over the same period before Harrington makes his three wildcard picks.
Lowry is determined to make the team by right and, currently ranked 21st in the world, he has the platform to achieve that.
“It’s something I love about golf,” said the Paddy Power golf ambassador.
“Success or failure is nearly always down to what you do personally, as it’s such an individual game.
“I know that if I play good golf, it should all take care of itself.
“I just have to try and focus on doing that each day, in each tournament, for the next few months and keep the consistency that’s been in my game for the past nine months and see what happens then.
“As long as I put in decent performances, it should make the points race that little bit more manageable.”
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