ASH, England (PA) -- Shane Lowry, Ireland and Europe's newest golf star, is determined to make the right impression on and off the course in his new career.

The 22-year-old takes his first steps as a professional on Thursday, 11 days after a fairytale win in the Irish Open, the first ever achieved by an amateur in his European Tour debut.

Now he plays for money for the first time, and Lowry didn't think it appropriate to arrive at the European Open as if he were a superstar already.

Northern Irishmen Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell had been prepared to pick him up in their private jet, but he demurred.

"What would it look like?," he said. "I think the media would have a field day with that one, to be honest. I didn't even hear about it until I landed here yesterday. Obviously, I wouldn't have taken it up."

Nor was he interested in appearing in the pro-am alongside celebrities like Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton and Sir Steve Redgrave.

Given that it began in a howling wind and rain -- Hamilton, a newcomer to the sport, carved his opening drive miles right and picked up after three hacks in the rough -- it would probably have done his swing no good in any case.

"Me and Conor (his manager Conor Ridge) felt it was in my best interests not to play it and just chill out for a day," he said. "I think we just felt like it would have been a bit much too soon.

"It's been madness over the last couple of weeks. I'm just starting to calm down now and I just can't wait to get out on the course, to be honest -- it's a lot more peaceful out there," he added. "But it can't be a bad thing to have had all the attention. I've enjoyed it and hopefully there's a lot more to come."

He tees off with Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley and England's Anthony Wall in the first two rounds and is aware of the need to mind his language after on-course microphones at County Louth picked up some colorful phrases.

"It happens. It was in the heat of things," he said. "I was trying so hard to win and I'm sure I'll have to calm down a little bit.

"I just got caught up in things and because it was me that day I suppose it was highlighted more," he added. "Me and Conor just had a chat about it and it's fine now."

He should expect to be given a fine if it happens again.

Lowry fits into the Colin Montgomerie style of preparation in that he prefers not to spend endless hours on the practice range.

"It's the way I've been since I start playing," he explained. "If I have a couple of hours spare in the evening, I would rather play nine holes than hit balls. It's just the way I am and I don't feel like I have to change that just before I'm out here on Tour."

Asked what his immediate goals were, Lowry replied: "Just go out and enjoy it.

"It's starting to sink in now. Hopefully it will go well -- tomorrow is the start of what hopefully will be a long career.

"I know I made the right decision (to turn pro rather than wait for September's Walker Cup). And everyone around me knows I made the right decision, so I'm happy enough," he added. "Professional golf was all I wanted to do and it was the right time to do it."

Lowry could certainly have chosen an easier event to start with.

The star-studded field includes Garcia, Stenson, Masters champion Angel Cabrera, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, John Daly, Colin Montgomerie and Ross Fisher, winner by seven on the course last year and runner-up to Casey at Wentworth after a closing 64 on Sunday.

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