Shane Lowry feels he is ready to win again as he prepares to play on European soil for the first time since his victory at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational in this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The Irishman claimed the biggest win of his career at Firestone Country Club but, after missing the cut at the US PGA Championship the following week, he has not played competitively for six weeks.
In addition to that victory in August, Lowry has also notched two other top ten finishes on The European Tour this season, and missed just three cuts in 11 stroke play events to sit in sixth place in The Race to Dubai.
"When something like that happens, it's tough to get my head around. It would be easy for me to sit back the rest of the year, say I've won a massive tournament and sit back at Christmas and be happy with that.
"I'm kind of looking forward and looking to do a few more things in the next few weeks and I'm hoping to see another win hopefully and hoping to contend a few tournaments and finish at the top."
He added: "I'm sure there probably will be a little bit of rust but I've played a lot of games the last few weeks, a lot of games with a lot of friends. I've played a lot of golf which is what I do on my weeks off. I'm sure there is going to be a bit of rust there somewhere but I feel like I'm playing well. Feel like I've never had a break at all.
"But I do feel like my hunger is back, and that's kind of what I wanted to get after a few weeks off.
"Sometimes when you go through a long season and after a win like this, if you keep playing, golf can kind of catch up with you and you can get burned out. I'm hoping those weeks off will stand me not only this week but when it comes to the end of the year and The Race to Dubai and things like that."
This weeks event, played at St Andrews Old Course, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie, will be Lowry's first chance to secure points for next year's Ryder Cup and the 28 year old has Hazeltine very much in his sights, as well as a first Major Championship.
"I felt like the last Ryder Cup probably came a year too early for me," he said. "I feel like a year later, I can make the next team and I really want to make the next team and that's probably my main goal for the next five months."
He added: "Majors are four times a year. For me, I don't see myself ever trying to tweak my game for Majors because I think that's quite hard to do. I know if I put myself in a position, I can win a Major over. I just hope I'm playing well next year, and going forward the years after.
"I do feel like I can win a Major. There's no reason why not. I won that tournament in Firestone but there's no reason I can't win a Major. I'm not saying I'm going to go out and do it next year, but if I give myself a chance I know I can."
One man who knows a thing or two about winning Ryder Cups and Major Championships is Graeme McDowell, who will play this week with 20-time champion jockey Tony McCoy.
McDowell made his own return to Europe last week, finishing in a tie for 36th at the Porsche European Open, and is looking forward to one of the most colourful events on the The European Tour International Schedule.
"It's always an event which I enjoy, especially when the sun shines," he said. "Here the weather can have a big impact on your level of enjoyment this week. Looks like we are set to have a fun one. Golf courses are in amazing shape.
"I played Carnoustie and St Andrews yesterday and I will play Kingsbarns today.
"A lot of dynamics going on this week. Obviously from an individual point of view, it's a big week, good money to play for, good World Ranking to play for, and it would be a good week for me to be competing. I played well here in the past and in good form here generally.
"Obviously the partnership, the amateur point of view, it's a lot of fun, as well. Playing with AP McCoy, which I'm very excited about, I think he's making his debut here at the Dunhill. It will be interesting to see how he gets on. I think the ground is good to firm out there, so It should be grand."
