One moment you’re a hero for an entire continent, the next you’re serving as a caddie for someone who isn’t even a golfer.Shane Lowry, who was instrumental in Team Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph on American soil, has gone for a change of pace this week at the Open de Espana. Things will soon ramp up for the Irishman with the DP World Tour event beginning on Thursday but Lowry spent his Wednesday on the course with tennis icon Carlos Alcaraz.Alcaraz teamed up with fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm in the Pro Am at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.The six-time Grand Slam winner impressed with a fine tee shot which was met with Rahm’s seal of approval.It appears Lowry was also wowed by the 22-year-old’s skills with the club, saying after doing four holes with Alcaraz: “I told him his golf isn’t incredible, but it’s much better than my tennis.“Spending a couple of hours with him, with what he’s already achieved at such a young age, was great.”Lowry even served as Alcaraz’s caddie for a fleeting moment, with the tennis star joking that he’d been in for a very healthy cut of tournament winnings.“Expensive caddie,” Lowry quipped as he rolled Alcaraz’s clubs for him on the fairway.“50 per cent when I win the tournament,” he joked.Alcaraz is proving to be a dab hand at golf, although he’s probably best suited sticking with tennisGettyOpen de EspanaRahm is bidding to win a record fourth Spanish Open title which would see him surpass golf legend Seve Ballesteros as the most successful player since the tournament started in 1972.He’ll be rivalled by Lowry, as well as Sergio Garcia, who won the 2002 edition of the tournament. Patrick Reed and Joaquin Niemann are other notable names participating. Like Lowry, Rahm goes into the tournament off the back of Ryder Cup glory at Bethpage Black, which Rahm admits took its toll but rewarded him in equal measure.“That week in New York was mentally the toughest week of my career, but at the same time it was the most fun I’ve had,” Rahm said ahead of the tournament.“What happened there during those three days was something inhospitable. At times I couldn’t believe it.”“You could compare it to soccer, but then you have the noise of 50,000 people and you don’t actually hear what each person is saying,” Rahm added. “In my case, every step I took I could hear everything.”Alcaraz could prove to be a good luck charm for RahmGettyWhy is Alcaraz not playing tennis?Like Team Europe, Alcaraz has enjoyed his own recent success in New York by claiming the US Open title last month. Alcaraz then won the Japan Open later in September but suffered an ankle injury along the way. And now he’s taking time off the court to help his recovery. Announcing the news on Instagram, Alcaraz wrote: “I’m very disappointed to announce that I won’t be able to play the Rolex Shanghai Masters this year.“Unfortunately, I’ve been struggling with some physical issues and, after discussing with my team, we believe the best decision is to rest and recover.“I was really looking forward to playing in front of the amazing fans in Shanghai again. I hope to be back soon and see my Chinese fans next year.”Alcaraz won the US Open as well as the French Open this yearGetty