RORY MCILROY has hailed Ryder Cup pal Shane Lowry as his role model.
The Northern Irish ace made the admission about the Offaly native on season three of the Netflix Full Swing docu-series.
Four-time major winner McIlroy admitted he looks at the Clara star as a role model.
The Ryder Cup players won the 2024 Zurich Classic alongside one another, and both admitted that they spend up to five days with each other near their residence in Florida.
The Down native admitted that he often struggles to balance his personal and professional but admits he can take a lot from Lowry.
He said: “Sometimes I’ve struggled with the balance of trying to be the best golfer, trying to be the best husband or the best dad. Sometimes I get overwhelmed, and it can be a little too much for me.”
“Then I see how Shane does it with a lot of ease. Sometimes you have to focus on one or the other.
“He’s really good at that, and I see him as a good role model for me in some ways. I can learn a lot from him and how he handles everything in his life.”
Lowry said when asked if he feels protective of McIlroy on the Chad Mumm produced series.
He replied: “No one’s ever asked me that. How do you say it? I probably would do, yeah,”
The Offaly native also reflected on their friendship, which dates back over two decades.
“We have known each other for 21, 22 years, I would say. When you are Rory McIlroy, who is probably the greatest player of our generation, people are not themselves around you.”
Lowry also explained how he provides the sometimes controversial McIlroy with a sense of normality away from the pressures of his massive fame.
He added: “When I hang out with him, I am myself, and I think I am probably a breath of fresh air for him at times.
“You know, he can just get away and be himself and be normal. I feel I am good for him, but he is really good for me.”
“He gets a lot of unnecessary criticism from the general public, in golf media, and from other players. Stuff like that can weigh heavy on people, and I just feel like he gets a lot of s—.”
