Lure of Ryder Cup has loomed large over Shane Lowry's season

Shane Lowry is confident that Europe can avenge their record defeat at Whistling Straits in 2021 when the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup takes place at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome this week.

Lowry first Ryder Cup experience two years ago ended in a 19-9 victory for the United States, which was the largest winning margin since continental Europe joined the competition in 1979.

"It would mean everything to me right now," Lowry told RTÉ Sport.

"I think I've put a lot of my eggs in one basket with the Ryder Cup this year. I've focused on it a lot, maybe too much at some times.

"I'm hoping when it comes to Sunday evening out here on the 18th, or whatever hole the tournament finishes on, that I'm on the winning side.

"I believe that I will be and I'm very excited for the next few days and the build up to it, and when we get out there competing. It's going to be an exciting few days.

I've thought a lot about it over the last while. Obviously, I'm not old, I'm 36, but I've been on tour a long time and this is my second Ryder Cup and I'm here to make the most of it this week.

"I want to play more and I want to be part of more winning teams, but I certainly want to make the most of this one and I want to make sure I'm part of a winning team this week."

The Offaly man regards himself as something of an outlier in how he prioritises the team competition, even when pitted against the crown jewels of the sport in the form of the majors.

"When you're playing in them, they're the most important thing in the world at the time, but in the back of my head I've said that as long as I'm standing on the 18th green here at Marco Simone with that little gold trophy, I'll be a pretty happy man this year.

"Other players are different