Shane Lowry makes fresh claim about his crucial Ryder Cup putt

Shane Lowry says holing the putt to retain the Ryder Cup for Europe was "as big" as winning The Open on home soil. 

Lowry won golf's oldest major at Royal Portrush in 2019 and his achievement is now widely regarded as one of the most memorable moments in Irish golf history. 

The 38-year-old finished 40th when The Open returned to the Dunluce Links in July but he capped off his year by helping Luke Donald's dozen win the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York. 

Lowry stormed through the final four holes of his singles match against Russell Henley at two under and, when the American missed his birdie chance on the 18th, the Irishman calmly rolled in his putt to secure the crucial half. 

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It gave Europe the 14 points they needed to retain the Cup and sparked wild celebrations.

Video footage showed Lowry partying late into the night in a pair of Ryder Cup pyjamas and posing with the trophy in front of that Keegan Bradley quote that was plastered inside the team room. 

He danced on tables and led the celebrations on the team bus. 

Lowry told reporters before the Open de Espana that he had dreamed of holing a putt as big as that in the Ryder Cup for a very long time. 

And he is sure that at some point he will come crashing down from a "huge high". 

"Honestly, with how much I built it up in my head and with how much I'd worked towards that week at Bethpage, I feel like the way it panned out, selfishly for me, to get to hole that putt, I think it was as big as The Open," he said. 

"I say I'm very lucky to have achieved what I have in the game, but to have that alongside it, it's incredible."

Lowry is joined in the field this week by his European Ryder Cup teammate Jon Rahm. 

Rahm told Spanish media that he could not bring himself to watch Lowry's putt and that he was "just praying" that it dropped. 

The Spaniard also said he was stunned by the "inhospitable" environment and described the week as "the toughest" of his career. 

Lowry continued: "Obviously, what happened is pretty cool, what dreams are made of really. 

"I am sure there is going to be a little come down at some stage, but it is nice to be back on the horse here in Spain this week.

"It can be difficult to come back to play normal golf, regular tournaments on the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour.

"But it's something that I've experienced in the past and that I'm sure I'll be able to deal with pretty well.

"At the end of the day, as a golfer, you're a competitor. So no matter what tournament I'm playing, I want to be the best version of myself."

Lowry is playing the first two rounds of the Open de Espana alongside Rahm and defending champion Angel Hidalgo. 

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