Golf:Ireland's Shane Lowry, who on Sunday became only the third amateur to win on the European Tour after claiming the 3 Irish Open at Baltray, is expected to announce tomorrow afternoon that he is turning professional.
A press conference has been called for a Dublin hotel which will have everyone in the sport speculating that the new Irish Open champion is switching codes and will possibly make his debut as a professional at next week's European Open at the London Club in Kent.
It is understood Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management are the front-runners to obtain Lowry’s signature. The company, headed up by Conor Ridge, already has Ryder Cup star Graeme McDowell, Gareth Maybin, Michael Hoey and Lowry’s former Ireland team-mate, Jonathan Caldwell, on their books.
Lowry, a 22-year-old plus-five handicapper, had to turn down the first prize of €500,000 at Baltray. That went instead to England's Robert Rock, whom he had beaten at the third hole of a play-off.
Britain and Ireland Walker Cup captain Colin Dalgleish said on Monday that he was hopeful the Offaly golfer would stay amateur to play in September's match against the Americans at the Merion Golf Club.
But Lowry commented later the same day: "I can't see myself playing amateur golf after what's happened. It would be taking a step down."
He could have dived straight into this week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, but instead announced he was taking time out to consider his future.
Until the Portuguese Open two years ago no amateur had won a Tour event. Spaniard Pablo Martin changed that and then three months ago New Zealander Danny Lee, winner last year of the US Amateur title, captured the Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia.
Martin turned professional two months after his victory and so did Lee, who earned himself a place in The Masters at Augusta and could not take that unless he stayed amateur.
Lowry's appearance in the Irish Open was his first ever start in a professional event and in Friday's second round he fired an astonishing 10-under-par 62, matching the lowest ever round by an amateur on the circuit.
