MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Even after his emotional missed cut at The Open last week, Rory McIlroy said he did watch the final round at Royal Portrush and that he traded text messages with champion Shane Lowry.
“He texted me on Friday night and sort of gave me a couple of words of encouragement, and that was nice. He said to me, ‘I'll see you in Memphis [at this week’s WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational],’” McIlroy said. “I said, ‘Well, I hope I don't see you in Memphis because hopefully you’re still drinking out of the claret jug.’”
Lowry withdrew from this week’s World Golf Championship to stay at home in Ireland and enjoy what has been a prolonged celebration.