"Shane Lowry picked for experience not good golf" says DP World Tour pro
Six-time DP World Tour winner Joost Luiten believes Nicolai Hojgaard was fortunate to get a pick over Adrian Meronk in the Ryder Cup team.
Six-time DP World Tour winner Joost Luiten has told GolfMagic that Shane Lowry received one of Luke Donald's six picks in the European Ryder Cup team solely as a result of "his experience and not because of good golf lately."
Donald chose Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Aberg and Nicolai Hojgaard as his captain's picks for Team Europe.
They join Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick and Bob MacIntyre in the team.
Many fans and critics consider Lowry a shade fortunate to have earned a pick in his second consecutive team after some lacklustre form.
Lowry, who won the 2019 Open, has only had one top-10 finish all season.
That came earlier this year with a T5 at the Honda Classic in February.
Luiten, 37, also told GolfMagic he was surprised to see Nicolai Hojgaard earn a pick in the team over Adrian Meronk.
That is something we touched upon in our latest edition of Roberts Rants.
"Why on earth has Luke Donald left Adrian Meronk OUT the Ryder Cup team?!"
https://t.co/0OZJa37Bw3— Andy Roberts (@AndyRobertsGolf) September 4, 2023
The Dutchman was speaking to GolfMagic following his impressive T5 at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland on Sunday.
Luiten told GolfMagic:
While Luiten fell short in his own bid to make his first European Ryder Cup team this season, he is nevertheless enjoying a stellar campaign on the DP World Tour.
How many matches do you think you Shane Lowry will play at the Ryder Cup?
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) September 4, 2023
Luiten notched his third top-10 finish in his last five starts and seventh of the DP World Tour season on Sunday.
As a result of his latest finish, Luiten vaults up to ninth in the Race to Dubai standings heading into this week's Irish Open where McIlroy headlines the field at The K Club.