Lowry focused fully on the team at Whistling Straits

Shane Lowry insists he would happily return home from Whistling Straits without a point as long as he had the Ryder Cup on the plane with him.

The Irishman is making his debut in the contest this week as one of three rookies, with first-timers enjoying a fruitful recent history for Europe.

Tommy Fleetwood and Thomas Pieters both claimed four points on their debuts in 2018 and 2016 respectively, while Jamie Donaldson famously hit the shot that secured the Cup at Gleneagles in 2014.

As a Major, Rolex Series and World Golf Championships winner, Lowry brings plenty of experience into the teamroom even as a debutant, but he insists personal glory will go out the window come Friday morning.

"I'm just happy to be here," he said. "I think it shows how hard it is to make a Ryder Cup team.

"I've had a pretty decent career so far and it's all led us to this now and I'm happy to be here this week and I'm happy to be playing for Europe and so excited to get out there competing and hopefully winning points at the weekend.

"I don't care if I don't make any points this week and we win on Sunday. It doesn't bother me. I don't care if I don't play and we win on Sunday. It doesn't bother me.

"There's only one thing that matters this week and that's winning the trophy. It won't be a successful week unless we're standing there with the Ryder Cup on Sunday evening. I'll do whatever it takes to be there on Sunday evening with the Ryder Cup as a part of this team.

"Whether it be playing loads or not playing at all, it doesn't bother me, I just have to do what I'm told this week and do it well."

Lowry has countryman Pádraig Harrington as his captain this week, with Northern Irishmen Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell also in the team room as the island of Ireland adds to its great Ryder Cup legacy.

And the 2019 Champion Golfer of the Year is proud to become European Ryder Cup player number 163.

"As a European player, as an Irish player growing up, you've watched Ryder Cups: Christy (O'Connor) Junior, Philip Walton, Eamonn Darcy, Rory, G-Mac, Paddy, Paul (McGinley), Darren (Clarke), all the great Irish players that have played the game.

"For me it was something that I really wanted to do and I felt like I had to do... if I want to be up there with those guys when you're talking about really good or great Irish golfers.

"Now that I'm here, there's only one goal for the rest of the week, and that's to win. That would obviously be the icing on the cake."

Bernd Wiesberger is also a rookie this week as he becomes the first player from Austria to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup.

Wiesberger was doing TV work at the 2018 contest in the middle of a seven month spell out of the game with a wrist injury but since then he has won four European Tour titles including two Rolex Series wins.

Countryman Matthias Schwab has also burst onto the scene in recent seasons and Wiesberger hopes to inspire the next generation of Austrian golfers.

"I was on this side of the press conference and trying to make sense of what's going to happen this week," he said of 2018.

"Along that week something kind of fuelled inside me and took it as motivation to be part of one of these teams.

"I never really vocalised it or spoke about it too much but it was definitely massive motivation for me to be the first to experience a Ryder Cup first hand, first one I've been to, even more so giving myself a chance to be part of a European team.

"Those days in Paris definitely started that. Everything that was along that journey were steps in the ladder and I've had some really good success since and I'm very proud to have played my way on to the European team that way.

"Everybody is super excited in Austria. We have some great talent in Austrian golf. I think it was a little overdue for having an Austrian representing Europe in the Ryder Cup. I'm very proud that it's me.

"I'm absolutely certain that I won't be the last Austrian to represent Europe at the Ryder Cup."