Shane Lowry feels ready to put his US Open heartbreak behind him by lifting the Claret Jug this weekend.
The Irishman took a four-shot lead into the final round at Oakmont but carded a horror final round of 76 to finish three behind winner Dustin Johnson.
Almost a month after allowing a maiden major victory pass him by, Lowry believes he is stronger for the painful experience.
He said: “It has given me quite a bit of confidence. I played 54 holes of the best golf of my life and I played okay for the next nine before letting it slip on the back nine on Sunday.
“But for three-and-a-half rounds I was leading one of the biggest tournaments in the world.
“Obviously the Monday and Tuesday afterwards were not easy.
“I was quite disappointed and, I’m not going to lie, there were a few moments where there might have been a tear or two shed.
“I know I’ll give myself a chance again. It’s up to me to learn from the mistakes of that Sunday afternoon and bring that into the next one.
“But I’m well and truly over it. I’m much further along in my career now.
“Before the US Open I was nowhere near the Ryder Cup team, now I’ve put myself in the reckoning for it.
“I’m into the FedExCup and I’m moving back up the world rankings so it is all positive.”
Lowry feels confident if a similar opportunity to win presents itself on Sunday, he will be able to get over the line this time.
He said: “I like the big tournaments and I love playing in front of the big crowds.
“I love playing late on Saturdays and Sundays – that’s where you want to be.
“I had a good win last year at the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and I’ve been up there in a few majors.
“I love competing at the highest level. There’s no greater buzz in the world.
“I just hope I’m there on Saturday afternoon with a chance with 36 holes to go and we’ll see after that.”
Lowry tees off in his first round at 9.03am alongside two-time major winner Jordan Spieth and the 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose.
The 29-year-old added: “Playing with the best players in the world is where you want to be.
“Troon is a different course to Oakmont because if you play well you can shoot a really good score around here, whereas we knew Oakmont was going to be brutal.
“You can really make a good score on the front nine and you can hold onto it on the back nine and, if you get lucky, make a couple of birdies.
“But the challenge is similar. You have to keep making pars and then at some stage on the front nine you might get on a run of making four birdies in a row.
“You just have to wait for those moments to happen.”
