Confident yet conservative as Lowry eyes green jacket

Shane Lowry believes that his game is in good enough shape to win the Masters at Augusta National this week.

And while the 2019 Open champion is dreaming of wearing the coveted green jacket at the end of the week, he knows that he will need to be at his best, putt well and get a bit of luck along the way.

Lowry comes into the first major of the year full of confidence as a result of a consistent 12 months on tour, while his performances at the last two editions of the tournament will add to the belief that he can become the first Irishman to win the prestigious event.

Top 25 appearances in 2020 and 2021, Lowry admits that he is starting to figure out the famous Georgia course, and Lowry is planning a shot-by-shot strategy at the tournament this week, and acknowledges the benefit of taking a conservative approach around the 18 holes.

"Things have been going well, I've been shooting some low scores, and I've been playing some nice golf," said Lowry, speaking to RTÉ Sport.

"I'm feeling very comfortable out there and i feel great coming in here; my game is in pretty good shape.

"I am quietly confident of doing something good this week, but it is Augusta National and you don't really know. You give it your all and see where it leaves you at the end of the week."

The Offaly man said that he made mistakes playing the course on his first few visits to the tournament and struggled as a result, but his approach of taking one shot at a time should help eliminate unforced errors and take some trouble out of play.

"I think I'm starting to figure out the place a little bit better," said Lowry. "I struggled here the first couple of years, and I made mistakes where I probably shouldn't have made mistakes.

"I'm looking at a couple of options of