PORTRUSH, Northern Eire — Shane Lowry believes he’s discovered a formulation to excel within the greatest tournaments, like this week’s British Open at Royal Portrush, the place he gained the Claret Jug in 2019.
“Generally, truthfully, when every little thing goes rather well, I get complacent,’’ the 38-year-old Irishman stated Monday. “Then swiftly earlier than I do know it, I’m like 3-over via 5 [holes] and also you begin to have a panic since you really feel such as you’re going to do nicely.
“I really feel like when issues should not going nicely is after I’m at my finest,’’ he went on. “Like, return to 2019 right here: I had a meltdown on the Wednesday as a result of I assumed I wasn’t going to exit and play nicely. Then that focuses me in a bit of bit extra. If I can preserve my complacency away and my expectation down, that’s after I’m at my finest.’’
The pure follow-up query was how he’s feeling getting into this Open Championship.
“I’m feeling nice the final two days, in order that’s not nice,’’ he stated with fun. “I’ve had an ideal week of apply. I simply have to play s–t for the subsequent couple of days, and I’ll be all proper.’’
Lowry hasn’t gained this yr, although he’s come shut, ending runner-up twice and posting 4 top-10s in his 16 occasions. So, he’s been taking part in fairly nicely. He has, nevertheless, missed the lower up to now two main championships, the PGA and the U.S. Open.
“The final two majors I missed cuts, which I sort of satisfaction myself on not lacking cuts, particularly within the large occasions,’’ he stated. “I’ve been persistently fairly good this yr. I’ve given myself a few possibilities to win, which I’m very upset that I didn’t, however we’ve bought a number of months left to sort of redeem myself and get a win on the board.’’
This week, Lowry is doing what he can to rekindle the magic he present in 2019.
“Doing one thing like that could be a lifelong dream,’’ Lowry stated.
Requested why he believes “all of it got here collectively for him’’ in that Open, Lowry stated with a smile: “I’ve spent the final six years attempting to determine that out.’’
“I believe on the time I didn’t perceive why [I won], however I believe should you look again, my outcomes had been actually good going into the event,’’ he stated. “Should you have a look at the majors that yr, I missed the lower on the Masters, however I believe I shot 5-over the primary spherical of the PGA and completed eighth. I believe I shot 77 the primary spherical of the U.S. Open, and I had an ideal second spherical to make the lower and completed like twentieth or one thing.
“Then I completed second to Rory [McIlroy] in Canada, and I’d been taking part in fairly strong, like actually good golf the entire yr. Then I got here to a spot (Portrush) that I knew and I liked, and it simply all clicked. I used to be taking part in among the finest golf of my life.
“I keep in mind that week I used to be fairly antsy and fairly uptight about the entire thing, however that’s simply since you wish to carry out so nicely. I nonetheless don’t know why. You by no means actually know why. There’s no actual reply. It simply occurred. I’m very fortunate. Right here in 2019 was one thing particular that nobody will ever have the ability to take away from me.’’
What could Lowry have in retailer for an encore this week for the house followers after successful by six photographs in 2019?
“I’m a greater golfer than I used to be in 2019,’’ he stated. “However it doesn’t imply I’m going to exit and win by seven this yr as a substitute of six. It’s wonderful to be again. Clearly, there’s quite a lot of reminiscences and there’s quite a lot of pondering again to what I did.
“What I did was very particular, and to stroll down the 18th gap with a six-shot lead … I’m in all probability by no means going to try this once more, so I’m not going to try to replicate that this week.
“I’ve ready in addition to I can for this event. Then it’s simply as much as me to remain out of my very own manner on Thursday morning and go and get after it and see what occurs.’’
