20 Things You Didn't Know About Shane Lowry

Shane Lowry is an Irish professional golfer who plays on the PGA and DP World Tours. He has six professional victories, including a Major title that came at the 2019 Open Championship. Get to know Lowry better with these facts…

Shane Lowry Facts:

1. He began playing golf at the age of 13 and was a 12 handicap after a year of playing.

2. He was a single-figure player before the age of 15.

3. He grew up playing at Esker Hills Golf Club in County Offaly, Ireland.

4. In 2009, he won the Irish Open at County Louth as an amateur, becoming the third amateur to win on the European Tour. No amateur has won on the European circuit since. He shot 62 that week, the lowest round on the European Tour by an amateur, and beat Robert Rock in a playoff. Rock took the winner's cheque as the leading professional.

5. He married his wife, Wendy Honner, in 2016. They have two daughters.

6. His dad, Brendan, was a successful Gaelic football player, winning the All-Ireland Championship with County Offaly in 1982.

7. He lives in Clara, County Offaly, Ireland but was born in Mullingar, County Westmeath.

8. He is a big Gaelic football fan but also enjoys hurling, rugby and football.

9. He won his second European Tour title at the 2012 Portugal Masters, his first as a professional. 

10. His career-high world ranking is 16.

11. He won his first Major title at the 2019 Open Championship, which he won by six shots over Tommy Fleetwood. Up to that point, his previous best finish was a runner-up at the 2016 US Open at Oakmont.

12. He is regarded as somewhat of a short game wizard. He told Golf Monthly: “I think the reason my short game is quite good is that all the greens (at Esker Hills) there are raised. I used to play a lot of golf on my own and I’d practice my chipping a lot. You’d always have to chip it up with a little bit of spin to get the ball close. I was never taught how to play them but I chipped and I chipped and I chipped and over time I developed it.”

13. He made a hole-in-one on the second hole during the 2019 Masters par 3 contest.

14. He is an aggressive player by nature, telling Golf Monthly: "You learn to aim away from flags and that’s actually quite difficult for me, to take pars and bogeys when you’re out of position. Professional golf is all about just ticking along and taking your birdies when you can. If you can make four or five birdies a day and try and limit your mistakes you’re going to be up there at the end of the week.”

15. He is a very proud Irishman: "Ireland is a place that welcomes you in without even trying. Maybe it’s our social nature or the amazing scenery or the buzz of simply going for a pint. Maybe it’s the craic, that indefinable feeling that embodies Irish fun. Whatever it is, and despite all the rain, I’m proud to be from one of the most beautiful places on earth."

16. He has made over $22 million in prize money over the course of his career.

17. He averaged 303.2 yards in driving distance for the 2023 season on the DP World Tour.

18. His caddie is Darren Reynolds, who has previously worked with the likes of Paul McGinley, Paul Dunne and Roger Chapman.

19. He made his first Ryder Cup appearance in 2021, where he was selected as one of Padraig Harrington's three wildcard picks. He won one point from three matches. He made his second Ryder Cup appearance in 2023 at Marco Simone.

20. He represented Ireland at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

* denotes win as an amateur

** won with Rory McIlroy as playing partner

How far does Shane Lowry hit the ball?

Lowry is slightly below average in terms of driving distance on the PGA Tour this season. He has averaged 297.8 yards compared to the PGA Tour average of 299.2.

Shane Lowry career earnings

Lowry has earned over $22 million in prize money during his career. He has seven victories in his pro career.