With one final big prize on the line for the 2025 golfing season, Shane Lowry and Robert MacIntyre are making sure they’ve got plenty of fuel onboard.
The duo from the British Isles are in Memphis, Tennessee for the first of three FedEx Cup Playoffs events, and are making the most of the local cuisine.
MacIntyre and Lowry have been fuelling up ahead of the FedEx Cup
MacIntyre posted an image of an extraordinary fest on his Instagram story, tagging in Irishman Lowry and writing the words ‘Not a problem for the big lads’.
Steak, potatoes and vegetables could be seen plated up with the paid carboloading for a two week golf extravaganza.
The FedEx St. Jude Championship runs from August 7-10 at TPC Southwind before moving onto the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland from August 14-17.
Things then culminate at the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Georgia from August 21-24
2019 Open Championship winner Lowry and 2025 US Open runner-up MacIntyre are attending the opening event due to their status in the PGA Tour’s top 70 players.
The field will be cut to 50 for the BMW Championship and then 30 for the Tour Championship finale.
PGA points are accumulated throughout the season allowing the top 70 to compete for $3.6million [£2.7m] at the first two events and $10m [£7.5m] at the Atlanta finale.
A man down at the Playoffs
However, there has been some controversy in the build up as just 69 players will take part this year.
That’s because Masters champion and No.2 ranked player Rory McIlroy will not be attending the first event.
Due to the Northern Irishman and No.1 Scottie Scheffler being so far ahead on ranking points, it’s impossible for either of the players to be knocked out early.
McIlroy won’t be present for the first of three eventsCredit: Getty
Yet that hasn’t stopped the story dominating the headlines, with PGA Tour Policy Board player director Peter Malnati hinting at a rule change to stop a repeat.
Asked how concerned he was by McIlroy’s no-show, he told Golfweek: “Very concerned.”
Then asked about a possible rule change, he added: “I think there is stuff in the works and I’ll leave it at that.”
Fellow player director Webb Simpson had more sympathy, though, saying: “I think it’s too hard of a thing to make guys have to play. We’re still a sport where you can play when you want to play.
“I don’t know Rory’s reason but I totally get it. It’s a hard to thing to fix.”
Previously alluding to a potential pull out of the first event, McIlroy said: “There’s a few tournaments that I played this year that I don’t usually play and that I might not play next year.
McIlroy is lightening up his schedule after becoming a Grand Slam golf championCredit: Getty
“I played the Cognizant in Palm Beach Gardens, [the Valero Texas Open in] San Antonio and [the RBC Heritage at] Hilton Head.
“I’ll probably not play the first playoff event in Memphis. I mean, I finished basically dead last there this year and only moved down one spot in the playoff standings.”