Lowry can learn a lot this weekend

AS the US Open began yesterday, it did so without Tiger Woods, one of the most fearsome competitors any sport has ever produced.

While he will be sorely missed by the media and general public, the players will be more philosophical.

In their eyes, one man’s loss is another man’s opportunity.

This week, one such opportunity falls on the broad shoulders of Ireland’s Shane Lowry who so spectacularly burst onto the scene two years ago when winning the 3 Irish Open while still an amateur.

While his progress since then has been more steady than spectacular, it has still been impressive.

A proven winner as an amateur, the manner in which he won the Irish Open said an awful lot about his ability to handle pressure and stay focused. It also amply demonstrated his steely character.

His 72 yesterday once again suggests that he not only has the game for the big time but that he also has the ambition and the temperament. His aim now should be to go on and play all four rounds and in the process learn more about himself in this environment.

While staying true to his own game, he must make this week count as another sharp learning curve in his blossoming career. For example, this week he probably will be required to play shots that he may never have played before. As a result, he may well question his own ability, but he should never drop his head. He should know that there are no crash courses to understanding how to win major championships. Only time and experience leads to knowing how to deal with the pressures of winning one.

If Lowry is to move on, he must make these experiences count. While some get there quickly, the vast majority take time.

For example, when we think about all that Michael Jordan has achieved in basketball, it is hard to believe he was cut from his basketball team in secondary school and that it took him seven years as a professional to win his first title.

Pádraig Harrington should be another great example for him. How many times did he finish in second place before finally winning? He was the “nearly man” of the tour for so many years. When he finally learned how to win, he then used that experience to go on and win three major championships.

Winning at the highest level doesn’t come easy. You have to earn the right, more often than not, through years of sweat and tears.

As Confucius once said: “Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.”