Lowry ponders what might have been despite superb showing

Shane Lowry had his best ever finish at the US Masters yesterday - but the Offaly man still feels he could have done even better.

The Clara native carded a final round of 69 at Augusta on Sunday to finish in joint-third place, along with Cameron Smith, and five shots behind eventual winner Scottie Scheffler.

It was Lowry's best performance in a Major since he famously won the Open Championship in 2019 - but the determined and ambitious Offaly golfer had set his sights on the famed green jacket.

"I will wake up tomorrow thinking what could have been, there's no doubt about that. The best player in the world (Scheffler) came here this week, what a run of form he is on and he put on a show. To shoot 12 under here is very, very good," Lowry told RTE Sport.

"Obviously I did very well to come back from what happened on the fourth hole today (triple bogey), but I do feel quite disappointed standing here right now," said Lowry.

"Genuinely I don't think I've built myself up for a week like this so much. To come in and perform as I did is nice, it's good, it's quite rewarding, but I'm disappointed that someone else is putting on the green jacket this afternoon and it's not me.

"It's hard because I want this so much and I worked so hard for it and I hope I get the chance again. I know what it would have meant for me, for my family and the people of Ireland to bring the green jacket home. I didn't do it today but hopefully I can do it again."

Lowry recovered from the major setback of a triple bogey on the par-three fourth hole, going on to record six birdies and just a single bogey for the remainder of his round.

"I had to knuckle down and get on with it. I'm never going to give up out there, so whether I'm ten over or ten under I'll be trying over every shot," he said.

"I haven't won for a few years and I don't like not winning. I don't know, I just love competing. I love playing big tournaments and it gets me going so much. Another few weeks to the next big, big one and hopefully I can keep my form going and give it a go up there in Oklahoma," added Lowry.