Shane Lowry taking Westwood lads-and-dads Masters route to the Honda Classic
- Matt Cooper
- 17 March 2021
The 2019 Open champion joined Lee and Sam Westwood for an Augusta National outing ahead of this week’s tournament at PGA National.
It's been a good week for Shane Lowry.
On Sunday he completed just a third top 10 finish anywhere in the world since he claimed the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush back in July 2019.
But his success at TPC Sawgrass in THE PLAYERS Championship was only the beginning of the good times because he then joined man-of-the-moment Lee Westwood and his son Sam on a jolly to Augusta National.
Not a bad couple of days and the perfect preparation for Thursday's Honda Classic: a fact-finding mission ahead of next month's first Major of the year, a fun time with friends, and a good way to relax between the stresses of last week's effort and the likely difficulties of a windy PGA National test.
Westwood first dropped a hint about the upcoming trip after he completed back-to-back runner-up finishes at Bay Hill and Sawgrass.
The Englishman was keen to take the positives from a fortnight of near-misses and said: "I'm fine and I've got a fun couple of days coming up.
"I'm going to play Augusta with my son Sam. Tomorrow's going to be a good Monday.
Lee Westwood is playing Augusta with his son, Sam, tomorrow...and said Sam will caddy for him in the Masters.
— Daniel Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) March 14, 2021
Girlfriend out, son in.
The man is living his absolute best life.
"It's the first time he's played there. He's been there with me years ago, but he's caddying for me this year in the Masters itself, so I figured I'd take him to play 36 holes Monday and Tuesday.
"It'll be a good lads-and-dads trip. Looking forward to it."
Mindset
It later emerged that Lowry was joining them, perhaps keen to further his Augusta experience because after five appearances there he is still seeking a first top 20 finish.
He's also aware that Westwood has been proving to the golf world just how effective a positive mindset can be, coming mighty close to landing two big titles just a few weeks shy of his 48th birthday.
"I feel old," Lowry admitted to the Irish Times. "But for us younger lads, or lads that haven't been on the tour as long as (Lee), you can see what a good mood does.
"What it does to change your mindset and change your game, to help you play well, and help you not take it too hard when times are bad.
"You can take a lot from his attitude and what he's done over the last few weeks."
Lowry is the reigning Open champion.
Lowry also revealed that he'd found something with his putter at Sawgrass and it bodes well for the future.
"If I can putt like that over the next few months or even few weeks you can always do something special," he said. "We'll see how it goes."
His tee to green stats were strong at Sawgrass, and so were his scrambling numbers.
This week
He got himself in the mix at halfway in last year's Honda Classic so, if he can maintain the good putting stroke and pick up on the good Westwood vibes, he can chase a first win since that Major breakthrough nearly two years ago.
He's top price 25/1 with Bet365.
Westwood has a fine record in this week's event, with four top 10 finishes from his seven starts, but beware the aching bones.
After last week's final round he said: "I hate to say it, but age is catching up with me.
"Yesterday I felt like my legs were just starting to get a bit tired and weak, and today I just didn't feel like I had my legs under me. I was hitting shots I don't normally hit. Couldn't quite find the strike."
Westwood is also best price 33/1 to win the Masters with BetFred and Lowry is 100/1 with Bet365.
