Shane Lowry anticipates continued enjoyment at Zurich Classic

Shane Lowry monitored Rory McIlroy's progress as he attempted to achieve a career Grand Slam at the Masters.

Of course, Lowry was cheering for his close friend to become the sixth player to accomplish this feat, but he also had another thought in mind. Would McIlroy still be interested in defending their title this weekend at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans?

Lowry actually confided in his caddie Darren Reynolds, telling reporters on Wednesday that they would be fortunate to play in Louisiana.

"If things didn't go his way (in the final round of the Masters), I don't think he would want to be here, and if things did go his way, he would probably prefer to be somewhere else," the 38-year-old Irishman said at the joint press conference. "But I'm glad he's here."

Apparently, McIlroy is also happy to be here.

"We are defending our title. We had such a great time here last year," the 35-year-old Northern Irishman said. "It's important for me to honor that commitment."

McIlroy has been living the good life since winning the Masters. He shared that President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama, along with many other notable figures, reached out to him after his fifth major victory and first since 2014.

"I spoke to two presidents the day after, which was pretty cool," McIlroy said. "People from all walks of life, whether it be sports, entertainment, or culture, reached out. It was very humbling."

McIlroy comes into the tournament with three wins already this year, while Lowry has three top-10 finishes in nine starts.