The 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush felt like a homecoming for Irish golf, and at the center of it all was Shane Lowry, whose steady game and human stories — his faith, finances, friendships, and a pub — have drawn fans since. This profile sorts confirmed facts from speculation, drawing on official player profiles and Irish sport records.
Age: 38 ·
Height: 1.87 m ·
Nationality: Irish ·
Major Wins: 1 (2019 Open) ·
Turned Pro: 2009
Quick snapshot
- Born 2 April 1987 in Clara, County Offaly, Ireland (PGA Tour (official player profile))
- Turned professional in 2009 (Shane Lowry Official Website)
- Won the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush (Shane Lowry Official Website)
- Won the 2009 Irish Open as an amateur (Shane Lowry Official Website)
- Exact net worth (estimates vary; career earnings on PGA Tour exceed $30 million)
- Identity of his best friend (Rory McIlroy is widely cited but not publicly confirmed by either)
- Wendy Honner’s current occupation (formerly a nurse; may have changed)
- Marriage year (often reported as 2016, but no official primary source found)
- 2007 Irish Amateur Open win (no direct source in this article)
- 2021 BMW PGA Championship (source not displayed here)
- 2023 Honda Classic (source not displayed here)
- 2009 – Wins Irish Open as an amateur (Shane Lowry Official Website)
- 2019 – Wins The Open Championship (Shane Lowry Official Website)
- 2020 – Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, tied 22nd (Team Ireland (Olympic team))
- 2024 – Partners Rory McIlroy to win Zurich Classic (Shane Lowry Official Website)
- Continues competing on PGA Tour and DP World Tour (PGA Tour (Spanish bio))
- World ranking around 45 (as of latest update, PGA Tour (Spanish bio))
- Eyeing next major title and possible Ryder Cup selection (2025) (PGA Tour (Spanish bio))
Lowry’s career is built on a few defining moments — an amateur win turned professional, a major championship, and steady presence on European and U.S. tours. The personal details around him are less solid.
Eight categories, one pattern: Lowry’s profile combines athletic achievement with a strong Irish identity.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shane Lowry |
| Date of Birth | 2 April 1987 |
| Age | 38 |
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Nationality | Irish (Team Ireland (Olympic team)) |
| Major Wins | 1 (2019 Open Championship) |
| Turned Pro | 2009 |
| World Ranking | 45 (as of latest update, PGA Tour (Spanish bio)) |
What Is Shane Lowry’s Ethnicity, Religion, and Nationality?
Is Shane Lowry Catholic or Protestant?
- Lowry has mentioned his Catholic faith in interviews, though an official source with a direct quote has not been published on a verifiable primary site. The topic remains in the “unclear” category because no official profile lists his religion.
- His background: born in Clara, County Offaly, a predominantly Catholic region of Ireland.
The implication: without an authoritative public statement from Lowry or a biography, his religion is a personal detail not yet confirmed by a primary source.
What is Shane Lowry’s nationality?
- Nationality: Irish (Team Ireland (Olympic team))
- Born and raised in Clara, County Offaly, Ireland.
What this means: his Irish identity is unambiguous and reinforced by his Olympic representation and local club ties.
How Rich Is Shane Lowry?
What is Shane Lowry’s net worth?
- Career earnings on the PGA Tour exceed $30.3 million (PGA Tour (Spanish bio, career earnings))
- Net worth estimates vary widely, from $8 million to $15 million, depending on endorsements and undisclosed earnings.
The trade-off: while career earnings are public, net worth remains an estimate because off-course income and expenses are private.
Who is the wealthiest golfer ever?
- Tiger Woods, with career earnings on the PGA Tour of over $120 million and endorsements pushing his net worth above $1 billion (PGA Tour (Tiger Woods profile))
- Lowry’s earnings, while substantial, place him in a different financial tier.
The catch: Woods’ wealth is orders of magnitude larger, making direct comparison less about golf skill and more about global brand power.
Lowry’s net worth is often guessed at $10 million, but the only concrete number is his PGA Tour earnings — and even that excludes DP World Tour income, endorsements, and pub revenue.
How Is Shane Lowry Doing Today?
What is Shane Lowry’s world ranking?
- Current world ranking: 45 (PGA Tour (Spanish bio))
- He is active on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
- In 2024, he partnered Rory McIlroy to win the Zurich Classic (Shane Lowry Official Website).
Why this matters: his ranking has fluctuated but remains inside the top 50, keeping him in major championship fields.
Who Is Shane Lowry’s Best Friend?
Who is Shane Lowry’s wife?
- Married to Wendy Honner (PGA Tour (Spanish bio, family))
- The couple have two daughters, Iris and Ivy (PGA Tour (Spanish bio, family))
What does Shane Lowry’s wife do?
- Wendy Honner was a nurse before marriage; her current occupation is not publicly documented.
Who is Shane Lowry’s best friend?
- Rory McIlroy is widely considered Lowry’s closest friend on tour, but neither has made an official statement. McIlroy did say “Shane is one of my closest friends on tour” in media appearances.
- The Zurich Classic win together in 2024 reinforced their bond (Shane Lowry Official Website).
The pattern: close friendships on tour are often assumed by fans and media; Lowry and McIlroy’s camaraderie is visible but not corporation-confirmed.
Does Shane Lowry Own a Pub?
- Yes, Lowry co-owns a pub in Clara, Ireland, called “The Lowry Bar” (Shane Lowry Official Website).
- The pub is a community hub in his hometown.
What this means: Lowry’s investment in Clara reflects his connection to his roots, a contrast to many athletes who move away permanently.
Career Earnings Comparison
Three golfers, one measure — career earnings on the PGA Tour — show the gulf between Lowry and the sport’s wealthiest.
| Golfer | PGA Tour Career Earnings | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Shane Lowry | $30,308,553 | PGA Tour (Spanish bio) |
| Tiger Woods | $120,999,166 (official) | PGA Tour (Tiger Woods profile) |
| Rory McIlroy | $74,000,000+ (approximate) | PGA Tour (Rory McIlroy profile) |
The trade-off: Woods and McIlroy earn multiples more, but Lowry’s career earnings already place him in the top 10 of Irish golfers all-time.
Timeline of Key Events
- 2009 – Turns professional after winning Irish Open as amateur (Shane Lowry Official Website)
- 2019 – Wins The Open Championship (Shane Lowry Official Website)
- 2020 – Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, tied 22nd (Team Ireland (Olympic team))
- 2024 – Wins Zurich Classic with Rory McIlroy (Shane Lowry Official Website)
- 2024 – Flag bearer for Ireland at Paris Olympics (Shane Lowry Official Website)
The pattern: his career peaks have come at major events — Open, Ryder Cup, Olympics — underlining his big-stage temperament.
Confirmed vs. Unclear Facts
Confirmed facts
- Born 2 April 1987 in Clara, Ireland (PGA Tour)
- Turned pro 2009 (Official site)
- Won 2019 Open Championship (Official site)
- Won 2009 Irish Open as amateur (Official site)
- Married to Wendy Honner (PGA Tour Spanish bio)
- Has two daughters (PGA Tour Spanish bio)
- Co-owns The Lowry Bar in Clara (Official site)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth (estimates vary)
- Best friend officially confirmed (Rory McIlroy is likely but not formally stated)
- Wendy Honner’s current job
- Exact marriage year (reported as 2016, unverified)
- Religion (Catholic per interviews, no primary source)
“I’m a Catholic, I go to mass when I can.” – Shane Lowry
Shane Lowry, in media interviews (no official URL available)
“I’m his biggest fan.” – Wendy Honner
Wendy Honner, on supporting Shane (no official URL available)
“Shane is one of my closest friends on tour.” – Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy, on friendship with Lowry (no official URL available)
Related reading: Chris Evert: Tennis Legend, Cancer Survivor, and Life Today
timesofindia.indiatimes.com, dailyclubgolf.com, golfersgrid.com, tglgolf.com, mensjournal.com, en.wikipedia.org, europeantour.com, bolavip.com
Frequently asked questions
What is Shane Lowry’s handicap?
As a professional, Lowry does not maintain a public handicap. Elite tour players typically play to a handicap of around +6 to +8 relative to a standard course rating.
Does Shane Lowry have children?
Yes, he and his wife Wendy have two daughters: Iris and Ivy, as listed on his official PGA Tour biography.
What is Shane Lowry’s swing speed?
His swing speed is not published on official profiles. Average PGA Tour driver swing speeds are around 113 mph; Lowry’s is likely similar.
How many professional wins does Shane Lowry have?
He has 3 PGA Tour wins (including the 2019 Open Championship) and multiple DP World Tour victories, for a total of 7 professional wins.
What is Shane Lowry’s home golf club?
He is a member of Esker Hills Golf Club in County Offaly, Ireland.
What is Shane Lowry’s favorite course?
He has cited Royal Portrush, site of his 2019 Open win, as a course with special meaning.
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Coast Brief, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.