Shane Lowry is desperate for a good showing at the EurAsia Cup to “kick on and make the Ryder Cup team” after he was named in Darren Clarke’s line-up for the tournament in Malaysia.
The inaugural EurAsia Cup back in March 2014 ended in a 10-10 draw and Lowry - the only Irishman on the team this time around - is looking forward to proving his worth.
“It’s going to be great," he said. "I’ve never played a team event as a pro so I’m looking forward to it. There’s quite a lot of young guys on the team; it’ll be nice having a group of lads to have a bit of banter with in the evenings and stuff.
"It’ll be nice to go out and watch the lads and root for them and hope that they hole putts instead of hoping they miss them."
Lowry wrapped up his season at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Sunday with a one-under-par, 48th-placed finished - 20 shots behind winner Rory McIlroy.
It brought the curtain down on a terrific year for the Offaly man, who finished in the top 10 at the US Open at Whistling Straits and won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone, as well as breaking into the world's top 20.
"It’ll be nice having a group of lads to have a bit of banter with in the evenings"
The USA will be coming out all guns blazing as they aim to end a dreadful stretch of eight defeats by Europe in the last 10 editions of the biennial team competition, particularly as they will be on home soil - with next year's edition being played at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minnesota.
Lowry is well aware of the size of the task and is now hungry to show he has what it takes to shine in the heat of a Ryder Cup battle.
"It's definitely a good breeding ground to get a bit of experience for the Ryder Cup. It’s going to be a good tournament and I just hope it gives me the experience I need to kick on and make that Ryder Cup team next year."
