Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Shane Lowry, the 22-year-old amateur who stunned the golf world on Sunday by winning the Irish Open, has turned professional.
He made the announcement just four days after his surprise triumph in County Louth as he feels it will give him the greatest chance of becoming the best player he can be.
Despite Padraig Harrington making out a case for him waiting until after September's Walker Cup in America, Lowry has decided to quit the amateur game. He will launch his new career in the European Open at The London Club in Kent tomorrow.
At Baltray, Lowry beat England's Robert Rock at the third play-off hole, but Rock took the winner's cheque of nearly £440,000 because the plus five handicapper was barred from accepting it. He took the title though and in doing so he became only the third amateur to win a European Tour event. His success also brought with it a two-year Tour exemption.
Lowry's decision is a blow to Britain and Ireland Walker Cup captain Colin Dalgleish, who had hoped the County Offaly player would stay amateur to play in September's match against the Americans. He could have dived straight into this week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, but instead announced he was taking time out to consider his future.
Until the Portuguese Open two years ago no amateur had won a Tour event. Spaniard Pablo Martin changed that and then three months ago New Zealander Danny Lee, winner last year of the US Amateur title, captured the Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia.
Martin turned professional two months after his victory and so did Lee, who earned himself a place in The Masters at Augusta and could not take that unless he stayed amateur.
Lowry's appearance in the Irish Open was his first ever start in a professional event and in Friday's second round he fired a superb 10-under-par 62, matching the lowest ever round by an amateur on the circuit.
In my eyes he has certainly made the right decision, from a playing and financial viewpoint. The sponsors will be queuing up to sign him and I'm sure he will become an instant millionaire once the deals are done. The two-year exemption that his victory gives him takes the pressure of having to retain his Tour card away and will allow him the time he needs to find his feet in the professional game.
The transition from the amateur to the pro ranks is easier now than it used to be. Lowry has been playing full time golf for the past two years and has been fully supported by his parents. The Golf Unions of each country now look after their best players so well that the margins between them and the professionals can sometimes get blurred. He actually dedicated his win to the GUI (Golf Union of Ireland) which has supported him throughout his career to date.
It is great preparation for playing the professional game which, of course, is the pinnacle and highest standard that there is.
Lowry is undoubtedly a fantastic golfer and he has achieved so much already, more than most pros achieve in their careers, but whether he takes the Tour by storm and charges up the rankings remains to be seen.
Pitting his wits and his skills against the world's best week in and week out will bring with it many demands, including a lot of time in airports and hotels, new courses every week and, of course, field after field of amazingly talented players.
I hope he kicks on from this success and enjoys a great career, who knows, maybe even Major success - he has certainly had a decent start!
