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 playing the course a little bit different this year, to take some trouble out of play.
"My focus for this week is to hit the shot that is in front of me, and hopefully shoot some good scores."
Lowry believes that you learn more and more about the course every time you play it and not just from your own game, but by also watching those who you are playing with.
And the Clara man said that he picked up a few pointers from previously playing the course with Tiger Woods.
"You learn a lot from playing out here, and two years ago I was lucky enough to play three rounds with Tiger Woods," said Lowry.
"You learn a lot from watching the way he plays the golf course, and you just see the way he plays it.
"There were certain holes I may have played different shots until I saw what he played, and it changes your attitude towards the place."
As for Lowry's chances of getting the green jacket placed on his shoulders at the end of play on Sunday, he knows that he will have to produce an all-round excellent performance to be in with a chance.
"In Augusta, when you are out there you feel like you can shoot a really good score, but it is very hard to hit a really good one
"It is one of those courses where you need to be very conservative and very patient, and then you have to execute the shots when you have to, and you need to putt well, and I feel like my putting has got very consistent.
"Obviously, I want to go out there and perform and I want to be standing here on Sunday with the green jacket.
"It is the excitement of playing here, and that carrot dangling at the end of the week that I know if I play my best stuff and I get a couple of breaks along the way that it could be me, and that's what keeps you going, and gets you out in the morning, and that's what makes it very exciting."
And having previously won a major tournament, Lowry knows that he has the belief to get over the line if he can put himself in a position to win on the back nine on Sunday.
"I'm sure [the experience] will [help]," said Lowry.
"The fact that I won the Open in 2019 in Portrush doesn't mean I want to win it anymore or any less, but I do know for a fact that if I get myself into that position, and I have a chance, I know I can do it and hopefully I get that opportunity."
