Defending champion Brooks Koepka thinks Shane Lowry is among his main rivals at this week's PGA Championship.
Koepka will bid to become the first player since the 1950s to win the same Major in three consecutive years when he tees it up in a group with Lowry tomorrow.
The former world number one has praised the Open champion's short game, adding that he expects the Offaly man to be contention on Sunday.
"I like Shane," the American said at his pre tournament press conference. "He's a funny guy. He's a character. I enjoy playing with him. I played a lot with him at the Floridian during lockdown. Got to play with him and another buddy, (former Shamrock Rovers player and Lowry's fellow Offaly man) Stephen Grant, maybe six, seven times. It was fun.
"I enjoyed the competition, trying to battle into something for being off for three months.
"Shane is a good player. Drives it really well. He hits a tight little draw. Great short game, and he's going to be right there come Sunday."
Koepka heads into the tournament at Harding Park on the back of contending in Memphis last weekend and he admits it's been tough working his way back from three months out with a knee injury.
It gets frustrating. I felt like I was playing a little better. Wasn't seeing the results, but piece by piece, it was coming. So I knew it was eventually going to be there. But as far as confidence, I got frustrated. I think anybody would. Nobody likes playing bad.
But at the same time, I knew it was only a couple swings away. Once I got the feeling, I'd be off and running, and here we are.
