Three-time PGA Tour champion Shane Lowry achieved a major goal in 2025 by securing his place in Ryder Cup history.

However, his one long-held goal slipped away when Rory McIlroy achieved it before him. This changed Lowry’s goal for 2026.

In an interview with Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 on December 28, the Offaly man spoke about his long-standing goal.

"I've always said to myself that I want to be the first Irishman to win the Masters. That was always my goal in my head. Obviously, that can't be the case now.”

With a final score of 11-under-par (277) after a sudden-death play-off, Rory McIlroy won the 2025 Masters and became the first European to complete the modern career Grand Slam.

Lowry’s 2026 plan is to prepare for the Masters over the next four months, with the aim of winning the tournament and receiving the green jacket from Rory McIlroy.

"So I think the only thing that would be almost as good as that would be Rory slipping the green jacket on me. I've thought about that," Lowry told Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.

"Rory won four times and Scottie (Scheffler) won six this year, so that's 10 times. I'm playing the same 20 events as them, so I've only got 10 more opportunities to win.”

Shane Lowry turned professional in 2009 after winning the Irish Open as an amateur. He made his professional debut at the European Open on 28 May 2009.

Lowry acknowledges that winning on the PGA Tour is difficult but says he wants to continue putting himself in contention. 

Lowry said he began the year strongly and gave himself several opportunities to contend, including at signature events and at the Masters, where he was in contention after three rounds before falling back on the final day.

Shane Lowry’s 2025 season 

Shane Lowry began the season with two runner-up finishes, placing second at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the PGA Tour and at the Truist Championship in May 2025, while not converting any individual wins during the season. 

Lowry also recorded several additional top-10 results in the early months. He missed the cuts at the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. Despite the ups and downs, Lowry remains focused on his goal for the 2026 season

“I’m obviously very hopeful that I’ll win again or win a few times again, and it’s always a big goal of mine going into the season.”

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu