The PGA Tour season is set to come to a dramatic conclusion this weekend, with the top 30 players on the circuit facing off at the Tour Championship at East Lake. There will be plenty of Irish interest in the event, with both Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy set to take part.
The season-long FedExCup race has led us to this point, with just 30 players making the field for the final tournament of the year. It is also a unique event, with the standings in that race deciding the starting scores of the players.
For example, as the highest ranked player, Scottie Scheffler will begin his first round on a score of -10, while second placed Xander Schauffele will be on -8. McIlroy begins on -4, with Lowry on -3.
The winner will claim a $25million prize.
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Shane Lowry: It's 'embarrassing' to just now make Tour Championship
Shane Lowry will have plenty of work to do if he is to challenge at the Tour Championship, starting seven shots behind the leader before a ball has even been hit. While a finish near the top of the leaderboard would be an excellent achievement, the Offaly man is happy to be even taking part in this tournament.
Despite being a consistent performer at the highest level for over a decade, this is the first time that the 37-year old has qualified to play at the season-ending event.
Speaking ahead of today's opening round, Shane Lowry admitted that it was almost 'embarrassing' that it had taken him so long to make the Tour Championship.
It’s nice to be here.
It’s almost embarrassing that I haven’t been here. I’ve been a pro a long time. It’s always a goal at the start of the year to be at East Lake and thankfully this year I got to fulfil it.
Everybody keeps saying how different it is, but it’s obviously just a new golf course for me, so I don’t really know anything different, which is great.
It’s great to hear the lads moaning about it inside the locker room and I’m happy with what I see. It’s going to play quite difficult. If you miss fairways you’re going to struggle to make pars, and it’s going to be hard to get the ball close to the pins.
I think I’m on a level playing field with the guys that have played here… like Rory has played here something like 12 or 14 times. He’s obviously won here three times.
When you’re coming back and it’s the same venue they do have one up on you if it’s the same golf course, but it’s a completely different golf course. So I feel like I’m on a level playing field with those guys.
While it has taken Shane Lowry a few years to reach the Tour Championship, he will have every confidence of producing a big performance over the coming days.
The Irishman has made a habit of showing up for the biggest tournaments, something he will look to continue as he caps off a strong PGA Tour season from a personal point of view.
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