Continuing his brilliant and revealing interview this week, with the Independent's Paul Kimmage, Rory McIlroy spoke about his relationship with Shane Lowry.
While we know them as great friends now, who rose through the ranks alongside one and other, McIlroy shared information on the 'middle-period' of their relationship, where they grew apart for a time.
McIlroy explains that the reason for growing apart was not only because of different schedules, but also because of McIlroy's split with his sports agency, Horizon Sports, who also managed Shane Lowry.
"I would say very close early on, not-so-close in the middle, and closer than ever now.
We’re being managed by the same person [Conor Ridge], in the same agency [Horizon Sports]. So, super close at that point [circa 2013]. Then I had a fall-out with Horizon in 2013 and it got a bit messy for a couple of years, not because one of us had done wrong to the other, but because of the circumstances.
February 2015. Then Shane won in Akron and I reached out to him. The BBC Sports Personality of the Year was in Belfast that year, and we went for a few drinks afterwards and had a really good chat.
"So it’s really since he started playing here that we’ve got close again. Erica and Wendy [Shane’s wife] get on great, and our kids are a similar age. It’s all good. And do you know what it was over?
"Money, exactly. It is the root of all evil."
During the interview with Kimmage, McIlroy implies that this experience is one of the reason why he is so against LIV Golf and the exuberant pay cheques they offer to their members.
Shane Lowry Takes Down Rory McIlroy At The Belfry
Friends first.
Competitors second.
Shane Lowry 🤝 Rory McIlroypic.twitter.com/JXMWFgsS1A— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 11, 2022
SEE ALSO: Shane Lowry And Rory McIlroy Take Home Huge Pay Cheques With PGA Tour's Popularity Contest
