Thoughts of what could have been will linger with Shane Lowry when it comes to reflecting on his 2024 season but in reality it was a campaign to be proud of.
The Clara man looked destined to claim a second Claret Jug at The Open in Royal Troon, having emphatically led the field after two excellent rounds of golf going into last weekend.
A disastrous day three proved to be his undoing, Lowry going six-over-par on a day where his rivals more than chipped away at his lead.
A difficult back-nine proved fatal, the 37-year-old signing for a 77 and a tournament that had promised so much had been terribly upended.
While some sage advice from Padraig Harrington - who at 52, impressively finished tied for 22nd - allowed Lowry to rediscover his game on Sunday, the damage had already been done.
It was not Lowry's only tease of a second major title success; the PGA Championship in May saw him break records before he finished in a tie for sixth place - just as he did last weekend.
A winner at the Zurich Classic alongside Rory McIlroy on the PGA Tour this year, Lowry saved his best golf for the major stages and the statistics certainly show it.
Stat shows Shane Lowry was brilliant at majors this season
Lowry's 2019 Open success at Royal Portrush - where the event returns to next year - remains his lone major win but he showed real signs of doubling that tally this season.
Remarkably, he is one of just 13 players to have made the cut in all four of golf's elite events: The Masters; PGA Championship; US Open and The Open.
Of that elite group, Lowry had the fifth lowest aggregate score across the four competitions with a tally of six-under-par.
Xander Schauffele, who won both the PGA Championship and The Open, leads the way with Masters champion Scottie Scheffler behind.
The resurgent Collin Morikawa and Russell Henley were the only other two players to usurp Lowry on the leaderboard.
Only 13 players made the cut at all four majors this year. 🤯
Any surprises? pic.twitter.com/3vPnaVl6nS— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) July 23, 2024
Lowry has risen back up the world rankings to 27th as a result of his exploits, his best OWGR standing in over a year.
Despite his strong form, he lamented his efforts on the big stage following his final round.
Unfortunately, it's not good enough, and it's very disappointing... There's no two ways about it," he reflected.
"I had a great chance of winning this Open, and it's going to hurt for a few days. But onwards and upwards and onto the Olympics and try to win a medal for Ireland and get on from there then."
Lowry has little time to dwell as his attention turns to representing Ireland alongside Rory McIlroy at the Olympics in Paris.
After a challenging start to the season, Lowry's game is certainly in good stead.
