Padraig Harrington knows he is in "last roll of the dice" territory for major success and was happy with a stress-free opening round at the US PGA at Kiawah Island.
The Dubliner, 49, is a three-time major winner with the last of his successes coming 13 years ago.
However, tied for 16th, he is best of the Irish following a one-under-par round of 71, which included an eagle, a birdie and two bogeys at the South Carolina coastal course.
Playing in a near-constant 15mph easterly breeze, Canada's Corey Conners set the pace with a five-under 67.
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"I like this golf course," said 2008 US PGA winner Harrington, who played alongside Jason Day and Phil Mickelson.
"Perfect conditions for me to compete in, so yeah, I've given myself the task this year just to try and concentrate on - when it comes to me, this is kind of the last roll of the dice for these events.
"So I've given myself the chance to get myself mentally in place as I would have done back in my heyday and not worry so much about the physical side.
Round 2 tee times (Irish)
12.49pm Padraig Harrington
1.44pm Shane Lowry
6.58pm Rory McIlroy
"Yeah, I was happy I hit some good shots out there and felt good about it.
"There was a lot of talking out there today, myself and Jason in particular. A bit of banter, that's for sure. A few wind-ups, yeah.
"I think we got a good draw. [The wind] certainly dropped a little bit, and when it warmed up, it even got better.
"I had 195 into the pin on 18, and like yesterday we would have been trying to get a 4-iron there.
"Today we were hitting 6. I know it's slightly different, but just the warmth of the conditions and the tournament pressure, all that.
"I know I wasn't necessarily trying to get it all the way to the pin, but it just goes to show how it was a beast with the set-up and everything, tees up - the right tees up in places, 10 yards can make a big difference for us."
Open champion Shane Lowry, playing alongside world number one Dustin Johnson, birdied the last hole to card a one-over 73.
Having double-bogeyed the 17th hole, he was "delighted" to pick up a shot at the end, which sees him in a tie for 41st place.
"I played great today," said the 34-year-old Offaly man.
"My putter let me down big time. I felt like I had four great chances or I had four putts inside 10 feet on 6, 7, 8, 9.
"You hole a couple of those and you turn in a couple under, but I turn in - I just kind of grinded it out all day, and I was hitting good shot after good shot after good shot.
"I pulled my tee shot on 17, but where else are you going to hit it? You're not going to hit it right. I got a really, really bad break there. That was disappointing.
"But I'm very happy the way I finished. I was very happy to bounce back from that double, with a birdie on the last especially.
"A hole like the last hole is not that easy, driver, 4-iron and holed the putt.
"It's really nice, going to make dinner taste a little bit nicer tonight. But it's kind of one of those rounds where I probably should have shot a couple under anyway, and I should be right in the tournament.
"But I feel like the way I'm playing I am in the tournament."
The Clara native was level for the day standing on the 17th tee, a par 3.
"I hit it left and it kind of pitched six inches over the bunker, and I don't know whether it was sand blowing out of the bunker by the wind, kind of plugged there.
"I didn't know where to stand, I didn't know where to hit it.
"I was thinking of taking the penalty shot. I thought the bunker shot was easier, then I hit it in the bunker and I hit it on the part of the bunker where there was no sand in it and I hit a bad bunker shot.
"It wasn't the best break I've ever got, but I suppose if I made 4 on 17 and had to par the last, I would have been like, oh, 1-over isn't that bad.
"To birdie the last and play the last two in 1-over was okay. I just need to go out [today] and do the same thing. If I hole a few putts I can be right there on the weekend."
Lowry is a Ryder Cup hopeful and a good friend of captain Harrington. But when it comes to selection for the September event in Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, Harrington says he has the same advice for all contenders.
"I think in general, rookies have to play their way into a spot," he said.
"Nobody really refers to Shane as a rookie. He's a major winner, so that's a completely different scenario.
"Again, that's what I'm saying, there's no rules to these things because you have to take these things into consideration, and the fact that he's a big-time player, he likes the big occasion - even as a rookie he's not going to be star struck, is he.
"Thankfully for me I've got half a dozen guys trying to impress me right now.
"As I keep saying to my team, anybody - the best thing anyone on my team can do when it comes to this and the next two majors and the Olympics is go win one.
"They need to focus on the majors; the Olympics and the Ryder Cup will take care of itself when it comes to September. They don't need to worry about any - that's my job, not their job."
Asked if how he would feel about captaining Europe if he was to win another major, he smiled: "I'd be very happy. I'm a bit long in the tooth now for Ryder Cup, [it's] a big five rounds of golf.
"No, I'm happy to be captain and let them hit the ball."
Pre-tournament favourite Rory McIlroy had a disappointing round of three-over par, which sees him tied for 77th place.
The most garbage tee shot you'll see today. 🚮 pic.twitter.com/DpMT3eLwTc
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