A gamble is just that, and Shane Lowry’s decision to skip the Barclays – the first of the FedEx Cup playoffs on the PGA Tour – in favour of a transatlantic trip to play in this week’s Made in Denmark tournament, the final counting event of Europe’s Ryder Cup campaign, would seem to indicate he has landed himself a poor hand.
Adding the Made in Denmark event to his schedule was akin to an insurance bet for Lowry in his quest to claim an automatic place, but his failure to secure a top-10 finish in the Wyndham combined with Matt Fitzpatrick’s fifth-place finish in the Czech Masters mean that all nine automatic places on Clarke’s team for Hazeltine are confirmed.
No matter what Lowry does in Denmark, he can’t gatecrash his way into an automatic place.
For sure, Lowry’s presence in Denmark rather than in New York (where Russell Knoxand Graeme McDowell are playing) sends out a signal to Clarke of the Offaly man’s desire to be on that plan to Minnesota. Can he yet turn Clarke’s head his way? Lowry may need a win in Denmark to have any chance.
As of now, it would seem that Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer are favourites to get two of Clarke’s wild card picks. The third remains up in the air, although Knox’s win in the Travelers and McDowell’s return to form (fifth place in Wyndham) have strengthened their respective hands. For Lowry to become the usurper, it seems a win – and nothing else – to go with the demonstration of his desire to be on the team by travelling to Denmark rather than the first of the megabucks FedEx Cup series will be required.
Clarke’s confirmed nine automatic qualifiers came a week earlier, meaning no-one can force their way onto his team from the Made in Denmark tournament. The nine men guaranteed a place on Europe’s team for the defence of the trophy are: Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett, Henrik Strenson, Chris Wood, Sergio Garcia, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Justin Rose, Andy Sullivan and Fitzpatrick.
The three wild card picks will be confirmed by Clarke next Tuesday, August 30th, at Wentworth.
Clarke claimed to be “absolutely delighted” with the nine players to make his team by right. “They offer not only a fantastic blend of youth and experience but also some exciting partnership possibilities,” said Clarke, who is playing – as well as observing the form of likely wild cards – in Denmark.
Lowry – who will return stateside after the Made in Denmark tournament to play in the Deutsche Bank championship in Boston next week – is one of seven Irish players in the field in Himmerland. He is joined by Gary Hurley and Cormac Sharvin, both playing on sponsor’s invitations, Michael Hoey, Paul Dunne Peter Lawrie and, of course, Clarke.
Whilst Lowry will obviously lose ground in the FedEx Cup playoffs due to his absence from the Barclays, two other Irish players – Rory McIlroy and McDowell – will endeavour to get off to strong starts in the play-offs with the aim to be in contention for the huge $10 million bonus payday to whoever ultimately comes out on top after the Tour Championship in Atlanta next week.
The FedEx Cup play-offs comprise four events – the Barclays, the Deutsche Bank, the BMW and the Tour championship with diminishing fields of 125, 100, 70 and finally 30 competing – and McDowell, in 27th, is currently the leading Irish man. McIlroy is in 36th and Lowry in 87th.
