Following Luke would be like filling Fergie's shoes at Man U

Lowry wants skipper to stay and insists any successor would toil to replace him

- BY CRAIG SWAN

It'll be very tough shoes to fill. We would happily have him [for two more years] but it’s obviously his call. He’s given up three years of his life and he’s put in a lot of work.

“It'll be a big deal for him to take it on again. We were just talking about it in the team room. I feel like the blueprint is there. And the tour has a great plan in place. I said, you have to try and come in and put your own stamp on it. But it will be a hard job to do.”

Donald may not be there but Lowry is going to make damn sure he is with his clubs.

The 2019 Open champion described the success at Bethpage as the coolest moment of his life in the immediate aftermath of success.

Although things can be said in the heat of a moment it feels real coming from Lowry. His appetite for the Ryder Cup is insatiable. He lives for it and the prospect of one on his own patch and him not being there can't be contemplated.

Lowry said: “I've already joked about it with my team, imagine the stress of trying to make that team. I’m sure I'll be involved somehow but I want to be playing and contributing to the team.

“It's going to be an amazing Ryder Cup, the golf course, hotel, everything about it is incredible.”