Masters champ Rory McIlroy getting back to business quickly to defend Zurich title with Shane Lowry

Rory McIlroy has no doubt had a whirlwind week after winning the Masters. The plan he put forth in this champion’s press conference last Sunday was to fly home to Northern Ireland to celebrate securing the career Grand Slam with his parents.

He’s not going to be there for long. Shane Lowry, his good friend and fellow Irishman, said McIlroy will fulfill his commitment next week to play in the two-man team event, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, and on Friday that became official. McIlroy and Lowry are the reigning champions after winning a playoff over Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer.

“We’ll be there. I talked to him [Wednesday] morning. We’re good to go,” Lowry told Golfweek at this week’s RBC Heritage, where he opened with a 68 and finishing the Masters with an 81.

“To be honest, I didn’t want him to feel like he had to play because of me. He’s not letting me down if he wanted to take some time. He feels like he wants to get back out there. He feels like next week is a good week to do it. So, yeah, we’ll be there.”

Lowry was there in the scoring area on Sunday at Augusta National to joyously hug McIlroy after he beat Englishman Justin Rose with a birdie on the first playoff hole. Lowry nervously watched McIlroy play the 18th hole in regulation while sitting in the Grill Room at Augusta, and when McIlroy missed the par putt that would have secured his first green jacket, Lowery buried his head in his hands and walked out of the room.

In the immediate aftermath of the win, Lowry told a group of reporters, “Look, spending time with him and knowing him as well as I do, for him it’s everything. He might not want to say that, but it’s genuinely everything for him the last 10 years since he won the third [of four majors]. Then he wanted to win this to get the career Grand Slam. It’s huge. It’s huge for Irish golf. It’s huge for everyone. I’m delighted for him.”

A year ago in New Orleans after their win, McIlroy and Lowry stopped by a sponsor’s party at the course and produced a viral moment by belting out Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” That song means more than ever now.