15 February 2024 , 20:28
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Shane Lowry believes Rory McIlroy taking a step away from the saga surrounding the PGA Tour and LIV Golf will help him concentrate on finally winning the Masters.
McIlroy had found himself at the centre of golf's civil war, having initially announced himself as one of LIV's biggest critics. In recent months though, the Northern Irishman has softened his stance on the breakaway league, and removed himself from the off-course politics after resigning from the PGA Tour's Policy Board.
One man who knows the four-time major champion well is his Olympic teammate Lowry, and he believes the Northern Irishman's concentration can now centre around completing the career Grand Slam at Augusta this April.
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"Off the course with everything that has gone I think [McIlroy] has done a great job," Lowry told the ForePlay Podcast. "He was probably one of the only people to come out and back the Tour. I think a lot of guys stayed quiet throughout the whole process, which is fair enough, they didn't want to voice their opinion.
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"I did say to him a few times throughout the past year, I didn't encourage him but I said to him about being on the board and all the stuff going on away from the course and I was like, 'Rors, all you care about is winning majors man'... He is just worrying about himself now, and the only thing that matters for him now is the second week in April [at the Masters].”
McIlroy's latest U-turn came at Pebble Beach earlier this month, where he claimed those who had made a move to LIV Golf should be welcomed back to the PGA Tour without punishment. His comments have since ruffled some feathers among the PGA Tour membership though.
Shane Lowry discussed Rory McIlroy's recent LIV Golf U-turn (Getty Images)The likes of Justin Thomas and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler have both disagreed with his stance, something Lowry believes will have 'annoyed' McIlroy. " I think he is probably a little annoyed that people have not turned their backs on him but there is obviously a difference of opinion and I think he is annoyed with that," the Irishman added.
McIlroy himself has echoed Lowry's comments, having personally claimed he is keen to concentrate on his work on the course rather than the goings on off of it. Off course the only box unticked for the Northern Irishman is at Augusta, with McIlroy a green jacket away from completing the Grand Slam.
Ahead of this year's trip to Augusta the 34-year-old has ramped up his schedule in a bid to ensure he is soundly prepared for the opening major of the year. " This year, in fact, I’m going to play more before The Masters," he said last month. "It will be my ninth or 10th event of the year. Previously, it’s been my sixth or seventh. I’ll hopefully be a bit sharper and know exactly where my game really is."