Ryder Cup: Securing spot for Adare Manor a ‘big part’ of Shane Lowry’s motivation

Lowry is one of seven players from the victorious 2025 team who will be teeing it up at the Irish Open this week.

With Adare Manor just 60 miles from Doonbeg, Europe captain Luke Donald has arranged a meeting of 16 prospective team members at the first Irish course to stage the biennial event since the K Club in 2006.

Among the group will be potential Ryder Cup rookies Alex Fitzpatrick, Eugenio Chacarra, Kristoffer Reitan and Angel Ayora, although Donald is also keen to get more experienced players acquainted with a venue best known for staging the JP McManus Pro-Am.

“I did some off how strong some of the guys are playing statistically and a few of my own picks,” said Donald of how he decided on the group that will gather on Sunday and Monday.

“I think it’s just an opportunity to see the course. Eight or nine of the guys have never played it. The more we can get out and familiarise ourselves, it’ll stand us in good stead.”

Donald feels the demise of LIV Golf could potentially make his selection process more straightforward this time around.

The Englishman, who first became captain for the 2023 event after planned skipper Henrik Stenson switched to the breakaway tour, had LIV players Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm in his team last year, although he had to use a wildcard pick on the latter.

After LIV filed for bankruptcy protection in the US on Tuesday, players are now free to leave rather than see out their contracts and the DP World Tour has already said there has been a “high volume” of interest.

That could mean prospective team members playing in a greater number of events where Ryder Cup points are on offer.

“I think you always want the six guys who qualify automatically to be the strongest,” Donald added.

“If that’s Jon and Tyrrell playing more and playing more here where the points are, that gives them more opportunities to qualify. That’s a good thing.”