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Shane Lowry wants to kick off the 2015 season with a bang when he makes his debut in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.
The Irishman finished fifth at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai – one of seven top tens in 2014, which also included second place at the BMW PGA Championship – and he is targeting one more strong performance before packing away the clubs for a well-earned break.
Lowry feels that a win is just around the corner, so to do it at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, where a world-class field has assembled to contest the US$6.5million prize fund, would certainly make the Christmas turkey taste even sweeter.
“It’s such a big event and a big purse, it’s a great chance to get a good start to the new season,” said the 27 year old. “I’m really looking forward to giving it everything this week and then taking some time off over Christmas and New Year. Going into the break off the back of a win would obviously be fantastic.
“When you’re playing well in the last few months of the season, you earmark this tournament on your calendar as one you’d really like to get into. I’ve never been here but I’ve always watched it on television and hoped that I’d play in it one day.
“I’ve been playing really well lately and I feel like a win shouldn’t be too far away if I keep doing what I’m doing. This would be a great week to do it, no doubt about that.”
The two-time European Tour winner added: “This is only my fourth time to South Africa, believe it or not. We have a lot of tournaments here but I’ve only played a few times. Sun City is a beautiful place and everything – the hotels, the food, the people – is great, so I’m looking forward to a very enjoyable week.”
Another player hoping to take advantage of recent fine form is Brooks Koepka, who last week was announced as the 2014 European Tour Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year.
The young American won his maiden title at the Turkish Airlines Open by the Ministry of Youth and Sports last month, and after spending some time back home in Florida celebrating Thanksgiving, he is eager to add to his haul at the first opportunity in the 2015 campaign.
“I was hoping for a win before the end of the year and I felt like I’d knocked on the door a few times,” said Koepka. “I would’ve been disappointed to finish the year without a win, so to be coming here with the chance to get two is great. It would be a nice way to end the year and a great way to start the 2015 campaign.
“It was nice to go home for a few days and celebrate with my family. We had the whole family and some friends over for Thanksgiving. It was nice to have some time to relax and unwind, and I really enjoyed it, but now I’m ready to get back to work.
“It’s a neat course and I think it will suit my game. I like it. There are some very small greens so you’ve got to be accurate with your irons. It kind of plays to some of my strengths, so it’ll be interesting as the week goes on.”
