Shane Lowry signals his intent with impressive top-ten finish in USA

No dillydallying from Shane Lowry, who – on his first appearance of the season – hit the ground running in the Farmer's Insurance Open in San Diego. In finishing seventh behind winner Jason Day, the Offaly man moved to a career best 40th in the official world rankings but, importantly, pocketed a cheque for $189,788 towards his bid to claim a PGA Tour card.

As things stand, Lowry, who is a non-member, must rely on sponsors' exemptions into tournaments in the United States on top of those events he is in by right (the WGCs and the Majors)if he is earn enough prizemoney to be given a PGA Tour card.

The mark he must pass is $713,377 which is the amount won by Nicholas Thompson last year in claiming the 125th – and last – card on the US circuit.

Lowry has actually won $254,788 in two counting events on the 2015 PGA Tour, as the prizemoney from last November’s HSBC Champions tournament is also factored in.

Any rustiness

So Lowry – who showed no signs of any rustiness on his return to competition following a two and a half month winter break – has a golden opportunity to win that tour card, which is one of his season’s objectives.

His upwardly mobile move in the world rankings has opened many doors for Lowry this season, with invites to the US Masters and the Players as well as his presence in the World Golf Championships.

Lowry is already assured of a place in next month's WGC-Cadillac Championship in Doral – a no-cut strokeplay tournament – and his performance in Torrey Pines strengthens his claims for future sponsors' invites into regular tournaments.

As it is, he has secured one into this week’s AT&T Pebble Beach pro-am and into the Valero Texas Open in the run-up to the Masters. He is entitled to a maximum of eight invites.

Earning a full tour card through the non-members route on the PGA Tour is notoriously difficult, but Lowry need look no further than last year to know it is possible. Victor Dubuisson, Jamie Donaldson and Francesco Molinari all managed to claim cards by passing the prizemoney of the 125th placed player on the previous season's money list.

Quick start

Lowry’s quick start to the season has put him in a strong position to replicate their feats.

Lowry will seek to continue his good form in this week’s Pebble Beach pro-am (which takes place on the three courses of Pebble Beach Links, Monterey Peninsula and Spyglass Hill) where Pádraig Harrington and Paul McGinley also compete.

Harrington has suffered back-to-back missed cuts in Phoenix and Torrey Pines in a disappointing start to the year, whilst McGinley finished 73rd in the Malaysian Open.

Whilst Lowry is seeking to make the most of his sponsors' invites on the PGA Tour, Peter Lawrie – who is reliant on invites to get game time on the European Tour after losing his tour card has failed to get into this week's Thailand Classic where Michael Hoey and Damien McGrane will be among those in action.

"After about 20 months in the doldrums, there is some light at the end of the tunnel," said Lawrie, who made successive cuts in Qatar, Dubai and Malaysia to moved to 73rd (with €51,862) in the latest Race to Dubai standings.

Lawrie’s problem is that he doesn’t know when he will be playing next, as he is dependent on sponsors’ invites.

One of those further down the line should include the Irish Open, whilst he will also get into the Spanish Open as a former champion. Shane Lowry's 'Tour Tales' column returns to The Irish Times on Thursday