Shane Lowry: My heart goes out to Grenfell families

Shane Lowry says his heart goes out to the families of the Grenfell Tower tragedy after confirming this week he will no longer be sponsored by Irish building materials company Kingspan.

The 37-year-old, who is preparing for this week's Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down, announced earlier this week in a brief statement the "mutual" agreement to end the sponsorship deal.

It comes after last week's report on the fire found that the Cavan-based company "knowingly created a 'false market' in insulation for use on buildings over 18 metres in height".

The 2019 Open champion has faced repeated calls since the tragedy, where 72 people died in 2017, to drop Kingspan as a sponsor.

Speaking to the media ahead of this week’s competition in Down, Lowry was pressed further about his decision to end the sponsorship.

"I can't imagine what those families are going through for the past few years," he said. "I'm not going to sit here and talk too much about it.

"It's obviously a touchy subject. My heart goes out to them, it is what it is for me and Kingspan.

"I've said all I have to yesterday. I said at the end of the statement I wasn't going to make any further comment, I'm sticking by that."

Having made his Ryder Cup debut in 2021 as a captain’s pick, his second appearance last year saw the Offaly man part of a victorious campaign in Rome.

He holds a record of 2-2-2, but has work to do if he’s to make the 2025 selection when Europe put their title on the line at Bethpage

"I really, really want to be on that team," he said. "That is one of the main reasons I practice. I would say it is the main driving point of my career right now.

"It will be a hard team to make. Hopefully I can do and hopefully we can go and win the trophy."

Whether Jon Rahm, a