Shane Lowry is determined to use the US Open to push on and become one of the best players in the world.

The Clara star, 24, might be 172nd in the rankings but he sees no reason why he can’t follow in the footsteps of Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, the world No 1 and No 2.

Hugely ambitious as he prepares for his third major start tomorrow, Lowry said: “They are World No 1 and 2 and, obviously, are much better players than I am. But do I feel I can be as good as them. I just have to keep doing what I’m doing and someday I will.

“I want to be a top 50 in the world player. I want to be playing in tournaments like this most weeks and I want  to contend in Major championships and play Ryder Cups.  So I just have to keep working hard and see where it brings me.”

Lowry got a massive injection of confidence when he finished fourth behind the English pair in the BMW PGA at Wentworth last month.

And while he’s a 200/1 long shot to lift the US Open trophy on Sunday night, he sees no reason why he can’t get into the mix.

He said: “I feel like my game is good at the minute so I will go out and test myself against the toughest set up that a tournament can bring and no matter what happens this week, I will come away at the end of the week and have learnt something, I suppose.

“I suppose I have showed that over the last little while that I am good enough to compete in big tournaments and hopefully I can make the cut here and do something on the weekend.”

Set to kick off the Irish challenge in the first group off the par-three 10th at 7am local time tomorrow, he added: “I feel like I can put in a really good finish this week. There’s no reason why I can’t do well and you never know, come Sunday.

“It’s a good draw,” he said, before adding with a grin, “get out early and might even be clubhouse leader.”