McIlroy hoping for Lowry involvement

Rory McIlroy has backed Shane Lowry to make Europe’s 2020 Ryder Cup side, saying “he would be great in the team environment”. World number 19 Lowry has never played in the biennial event which pits Europe against the USA but he is being backed to make the grade for next year’s competition at Whistling Straits. The 32-year-old broke his major duck this year, winning the Open at Royal Portrush, while he also won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship by one stroke from South African Richard Sterne in January. McIlroy, who landed the WGC-HSBC Champions last week, tops the European Ryder Cup rankings, having amassed 1,698.44 points so far, and he believes Lowry would make a great addition to Padraig Harrington’s 2020 team. “Hopefully Shane is in the team,” he was quoted as saying by golf365.com. “All the European guys love him. He would be great in the team environment and he’s got a bit of fire to him. I know he feels a bit of pressure to make the team but if he keeps playing the golf he’s been playing, he shouldn’t have any issues. “Guys who haven’t played before can make qualifying a big issue. But you just have to go and play and if you play well, which he should do, he’ll make the team.”