Offaly's Shane Lowry has made a stellar start to 2019 with a win at the Abu Dhabi Championship this afternoon.
In a late head-to-head battle with Richard Sterne, Lowry held his nerve to seal the win by a single stroke.
He's done it!🏆🇮🇪 @ShaneLowryGolf wins the @ADGolfChamps! #ADGolfChamps #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/qXG1nWhBVC
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 19, 2019
Speaking in the immediate aftermath of his win, Lowry shared the doubts that had plagued the last couple of years, and what this win meant to him.
"I thought I was gone, I really did," Lowry stated.
"I didn't think I had that in me today. Oh God, I'm so happy. It means everything to me. I woke up a couple of times last night, I could visualise my little one running around Augusta in a boiler suit caddying for me.
"That's how mental this game is."
Coming back from the veritable dead, Lowry had been four-shot off the lead as late on as the 12th tee. A remarkable show of strength from Shane Lowry, there was no shortage of well-wishers from some of Ireland's finest sporting figures after the win.
Brilliant @ShaneLowryGolf delighted for you winning the #AbuDhabiHSBCChampionship 👏
— AP McCoy (@AP_McCoy) January 19, 2019
@ShaneLowryGolf Congrats Shane 👍
— Ken Doherty Official (@kendoherty1997) January 19, 2019
Wonderful from @ShaneLowryGolf . A tough year last year, a tough last round at stages today, gutsy win, looked gone, showed serious heart and loved they way he went right in to battle mode after 11. It will give him confidence and confidence to an sportsman is everything, 2019 💪🏼
— Kieran Donaghy (@starryboy14) January 19, 2019
— Richie Hogan (@richiehogan8) January 19, 2019
A fantastic start to the new year for Lowry, the Offaly man stressed in the trophy ceremony that he really wishes "to enjoy this now," although didn't hide his intention to join Padraig Harrington and the European Ryder Cup team in 2020.
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