Shane Lowry has just told a brilliant story about his first visit to Oakmont.
The US Open will be held at Oakmont in two weeks’ time, and Lowry will be relishing his return to the famed Henry Fownes design in Pennsylvania.
Lowry will be confident of contending at Oakmont next month, after finishing in a tie for second there back in 2016.
He finished three shots adrift of eventual winner Dustin Johnson after stumbling to a six-over-par 76 on the final day.
The Irishman has been in contention to win big trophies a lot more regularly over the past few years than he was back in 2016.
Rory McIlroy suggested that Lowry has changed since moving to America, and that’s because he is playing and practicing alongside the world’s best players on a consistent basis.
Lowry has actually received some criticism recently for failing to speak to the media after missing out on the Truist Championship to Sepp Straka a couple of weeks ago.
He had better get used to some hard knocks, with the US Open at Oakmont just around the corner!
Shane Lowry reveals what happened to him the first time he played Oakmont
Lowry has the kind of game needed to challenge at all of the US Open venues.
If he tightens up his driving and iron play, he may well contend once again next month.
Back in 2016, Lowry headed into the final round at Oakmont with a four-shot lead.
However, the 38-year-old wilted under the pressure, and Johnson ran away with the trophy in the end.
And when on Thursday after his opening round at the Memorial Tournament, Lowry was asked whether he has any good stories about Oakmont.
The Irishman responded, “Yeah, I do, actually. I’ve got a good story about that. The first time I played Oakmont was the Sunday before the U.S. Open 2016, and I went out to play with — my coach was with me and we teed off on 10. We got around to 14, which is up beside the clubhouse, and I walked in. And I sat there in the locker room going, I have no idea how I’m going to play golf around this place.
“And then six days later, I had a four-shot lead going into the final round. But, obviously, we got a bit of rain — that was before the rain. It was firm and fast when I played it that Sunday, and it was windy. We got a bit of rain that week. Which helped us. But, yeah, Oakmont, I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to seeing what it’s going to play like, and I’m looking forward to the challenge of it.“
Lowry then responded when asked whether he was aware of Oakmont’s reputation before he played there.
He said, “Not really.
“No, not really. Like, I would have — obviously I know the history of the U.S. Opens from the past, but obviously it was a different golf course to what they played in 2007. They redid it. So, yeah, I wasn’t aware, but I’m well aware now.“
Shane Lowry clearly has the game to challenge at Oakmont
Lowry is nine years older now than he was when he led after three rounds of the 2016 US Open at Oakmont.
If his game is in tip-top shape, there’s no reason why he can’t have a fine week in Pennsylvania next month.
He certainly has the short game needed to challenge there, and if he’s on the ball mentally, there’s every chance he will contend.
Whether he will be able to get the better of the likes of Scottie Scheffler and his good friend Rory McIlroy remains to be seen though.
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