SHANE Lowry is preparing to defend his 3 Irish Open title which he sensationally won in Baltray last year. Ireland's premier sports tournament is on in Killarney Golf and Fishing Club from 29th July to 1st August and Lowry is really looking forward to visiting Co. Kerry over the bank holiday weekend.

"I can't wait to get to Killarney for the 3 Irish Open. It's going to be a great event this year with that location and the date on the bank holiday weekend. We should have great crowds and I know that a lot of the crowd will be the guys from Offlay coming down to support me and that will be special", said Lowry

Harrington, McDowell, McIlroy, Clarke, Westwood and a host of The European Tour's finest had descended upon Baltray to contest the € 3million event last year. By the end of the week the last man standing was the 22 year old amateur who defied the weather, the odds and the world-class field to record one of the great victories of Irish golfing lore.

It has been a little over a year since Lowry surprised the golfing world with his sensational win. The Offaly native is looking ahead to the defence of the title that transformed his life, but he confesses the unbelievable victory is still a bit of blur. "I don't really remember the last day to be honest. The main thing that I can recall is holing the last putt and then just being mobbed by this herd of people – it was more like a hurling match than a golf tournament!" said Lowry.

Lowry has fond memories of the GAA like celebrations on the 18th with his fellow county men and women. The fact that most of his supporters had never been to a golf tournament makes the memories all the better when he looks back at the footage.

"You never think something like that would happen at a golf tournament but then most of the people that had come up to Baltray from Offlay would have never have been to a golf event in their lives. They probably just got carried away in the moment. I'm glad they did – the pictures are amazing and to be able to look back at the footage and say, I was the 3 Irish Open champion is amazing," Lowry said.

May 17, 2009 will forever be etched on the memories of the thousands of golf fans who ignored horrific weather conditions on the final day. The favourite son of Clara became only the third amateur to win a European Tour title, beating England's Robert Rock at the third hole of a nerveshredding sudden death play-off.

Things have changed dramatically for Lowry since his victory and it has taken him some time to adjust to life as a professional golfer.

" Winning the 3 Irish Open totally changed my life. I instantly had a twoyear exemption on The European Tour and I found it really tough at the start. It was a big lifestyle change for me – there I was a pretty unknown amateur and all of a sudden you are thrown into this pretty small bubble where you are known among these top professional sportsmen".

The first six months where tough for the Offaly man, getting used to all the attention he received after Baltray was tricky but he feels he is over that. "I had to grow up pretty quickly and when you are not used to all the attention it can be pretty daunting but I think I have coped pretty well with it and I am getting used to it more and more. The first six to eight months were the toughest but after a year or so I think I am pretty comfortable." said Lowry

Going into the week of last year's 3 Irish Open, Lowry was an unknown in the golfing world. Since his life changing win he has enjoyed the feeling of being known as the 3 Irish Open champion. Defending his title would be an amazing story and it is something that has crossed the Offaly man's mind.

"Being the 3 Irish Open champion has changed my life as I said earlier – and the fact that I have had 16 months to enjoy it has been a nice bonus – I have been able to milk it for as long as possible but I want to do it again. I wouldn't mind another 12 months at it and who knows, I am playing well at the moment and if things go my way again then you never know. It would be unbelievable to defend it and get another 10,000 people onto the 18th green on the Sunday night to join the celebrations" said Lowry.