Fresh from his victory at the BMW PGA Championship, Shane Lowry has spoken on the issues golf faces when it comes to the huge money involved in the game.
This year has seen high profile players such as Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau join the breakaway LIV Golf tour.
While LIV has a luxurious financial package that has tempted high-profile players away from the PGA and European Tour, the series is bankrolled by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment fund, a country known for their human rights abuses.
This has raised the question of morality within the sport, as players have been unable to give clear answers on their stance of the country’s actions.
Speaking on the No Laying Up podcast, Shane Lowry said he doesn’t play golf for the money, but rather for the trophies and his legacy.
“I’ve always said I don’t play the game for money, I never have, and I feel like that’s why I didn’t even entertain it to be honest.
I’ve said to a couple of players that have gone to LIV why do you play the game? If you play the game for money, maybe you should probably do it.
"If you play the game for trophies, you shouldn’t. I stood there on the 18th green on Sunday and I held that trophy and looked on the names on it, it’s the who’s who of European Golf, it’s incredible that my name gets to go on that."
Shane Lowry Plays For Trophies
5 July 2022; JP McManus with Shane Lowry of Ireland during day two of the JP McManus Pro-Am at Adare Manor Golf Club in Adare, Limerick. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
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"I don’t care how much money I’ve won," continued Lowry. "We had a few drinks on Sunday night and it was like 11 o’clock and somebody says to me ‘how much money did you win today’ and I’m like I have no idea, and they are like no way.
"They wouldn’t believe me, and I’m like I genuinely have no idea. I opened my phone to had to see the texts I got from the European Tour to see how much I won.
"I’ve got good solid people around me. My wife said to me, 'Shane all that money isn’t going to make you happy as competing at the highest level'.”
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