Lowry believes he can win Masters - "There's no reason why not!"
Shane Lowry on his 30th birthday at Augusta National with coach Neil Manchip and caddie, Dermot Byrne. Picture; Dermot Byrne/Facebook
Dustin Johnson might look unbeatable but Shane Lowry insists there is no reason it can't be his turn for major glory this week.
The Offaly ace believes he helpedJohnson break his major hoodoo at last year's US Open and gain the momentum that has seen him dominate the game ever since and soar to No 1 in the world.
But after celebrating his 30 birthday on Sunday with a practice round at Augusta National, Lowry believes that with a bit of Irish luck on his side, he can become Ireland's first Masters champion.
Asked if he believed he could pull on that green jacket on Sunday, he said after getting in 15 holes during Monday's storm affected practice day: "There's no reason why not!
"This is my third Masters, and myself and (my caddie) Dermo were talking about it today.
"There’s nothing new to it. You know where to go and where not to go.
"Sometimes it is better not knowing where not to go but it is there in front of you now, and you just have to try to hit good shots.
"Sometimes you might hit a good shot and get a little bit of cruel luck, and sometimes you might hit a bad shot and get a decent bounce. That’s kind of the way it is.
"It is one of those courses where you have to try and hit as many good shots as you can and see where you finish at the end of the week."
Having come so close to his maiden major win at Oakmont last year, Lowry is convinced that a good break at the right time could be all he needs.
He had a four-shot lead heading into the final round of the US Open but ended up carding a 76 to finish three behind Johnson in a three-way tie for second.
Looking at the American's meteoric rise to number 1 in the world since then, Lowry joked that he played his part in creating a monster.
Smiling, he said: "Yeah, I gave him the kick-start he wanted. I’ve played a couple of times with Dustin. He is possibly the most talented golfer in the world.
"He’s the best at the minute. He just makes it look so easy, and he’s obviously putting well at the minute as well.
"What he’s doing is dominating the game, and he has done for the last few months. But the top players have all had spells like that.
"When Spieth was dominating, everyone was like, 'Oh there’s no one will ever be as good.'
"When Rory was dominating, everyone was, 'Oh, Rory is going to be Tiger for the next ten years.' Jason Day the same.
“Dustin's having his time now, I suppose. It's up to him whether he keeps it going or not… It’s his time now. It might be someone else's again.”
Lowry is hoping it will be his this week and while he has played just five events in the build up after deciding to spend more time at home following the birth of his baby daughter Iris last month, he’s optimistic.
He said: “I haven't had that many good finishes, but I feel like I'm doing all right. I had a few close matches in the Match Play, but that's the type of tournament it is. I got nothing out of them.
"I just have to keep trucking along and wait for my time to kind of come, I suppose."
Staying relaxed is key, and he’s let off steam by playing hurling on the road outside the house he's rented with some of his entourage.
The only downside is that they are quickly running out of sliothars.
He said: "We actually burst one sliothar off the road and we’ve lost another one. We’re not going great; we have only one left!
"If anyone coming over tomorrow could bring over a few, it would be great."
