Shane Lowry doesn’t care if US players are paid for playing in the Ryder Cup, as his only concern is making Luke Donald’s team for Bethpage Black next year.
The Offaly man, who opened with a one-under 71 to share 20th in the clubhouse at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, was cagey about reports that the PGA of America will shortly vote on awarding American players $400,000 each to compete in New York.
“I saw the story, but I’m not sure how — it’s not been confirmed yet,” Lowry said at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
“It would probably be silly of me to comment on it, really. Where would I stand on it? I can only speak for myself. I don’t really care whether I did (get paid) or not, to be honest. You know, the Ryder Cup is a privilege, and it’s what I work for.
“It’s what I’ve worked for for the last ten, 15 years, to be able to play Ryder Cups, and I’ve been fortunate to do two of them and have great experiences at them and build my brand playing Ryder Cups.
“I think, yeah, I love the tournament, and I just want to be involved. I don’t care whether I get paid or not.”
The DP World Tour has no plans to pay its players, and Lowry does not believe it will make a difference if one side is paid to play.
“I really don’t think so,” he said. “I think obviously we’re The European Tour. They are The PGA of America. They are not the PGA TOUR. They are The PGA of America. It’s their call, not our call. It’s up to the powers that be what happens there.”
The former Open champion certainly doesn’t feel he needs any extra motivation to try and retain the trophy in New York and insists he’s happy that any profits generated will help finance the DP World Tour.
“No, we don’t need any more motivation to go next year and win,” he added.
“Yeah, we all know in Europe that the tour lives off the Ryder Cup, and it helps run the Tour. Not that we’re happy to be a part of something — like you don’t think about it when you’re there.
“You know that obviously the Ryder Cup makes a lot of money and it helps run The European Tour, the DP World Tour.”
Lowry feels he already benefits financially by being a Ryder Cup player.
“And you’re not even giving back because it’s a privilege to be there, you know what I mean,” he said when it was put to him he was giving back to the game.
“Like I’d give anything to know I’m on the team next year. I’m going to spend the next ten months stressing my head off trying to make the team.”
Asked if he’d be willing to pay for the privilege of teeing it up in a Ryder Cup, he drew chuckles from reporters.“Don’t put words in my mouth!”