Shane Lowry will tee it up at Royal St George’s this week knowing he can become the first man to defend The Open Championship since Padraig Harrington went back-to-back in 2007 & 2008.

The Irishman cruised to a six-shot victory at Royal Portrush in 2019 and had the Claret Jug in his possession until Monday morning after last year’s Open was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And if he retains the title he claimed at Royal Portrush in 2019 he will match the achievement of his fellow countryman and 2021 Ryder Cup Captain Harrington, though no one has managed the feat at Royal St George’s since Harry Vardon claimed the third of his six Open victories there in 1899.

“I’ve defended tournaments before, but I’ve never come and defended a tournament of this magnitude,” said Lowry on arriving at the Sandwich links.

“But at the end of the day it’s another golf tournament, it’s another major.

“I’ve got a lot more on my mind, a lot more to play for than just defending the trophy. I’ll be happy to get that first tee shot away, and if you’ve seen the rough down the first hole, I’ll be even happier if it’s on the fairway.”

Padraig Harrington wrote himself into the history books when he clinched back-to-back Claret Jugs in 2008 – a feat no European had achieved in more than 100 years.

The popular Irishman broke his major duck a year earlier after seeing off the challenge of Sergio Garcia in a thrilling climax to proceedings at The 136th Open at Carnoustie.

And despite injuring his wrist eight days prior to his title defence, Harrington rose to the occasion once again at Royal Birkdale to retain his crown as Champion Golfer of the Year.

Lowry will no doubt be buoyed by the presence of fans at Royal St George’s this week as up to 32,000 spectators will be allowed in each day for this week’s 149th Open as part of a government test event.

“Playing in front of fans does it for me,” said the Irishman. “Not playing in front of fans doesn’t do it for me. That’s just the way it is.

“I think I struggled last year coming out of lockdown. I was playing great. I’ve never played as much golf in my life, and I just was stale when I got out there. I just couldn’t get it going.

“Even little things, like if you’re struggling to make a cut or if you’re down at the bottom of the field, having people out there on the golf course kind of spurs you on a little bit.

“We’re in the entertainment business when we’re out there, and when I have a difficult shot or when I’m stuck behind a tree or I have a tough up-and-down, I’m trying to almost show off a little bit.”

Lowry missed the cut in three of his first five events when the PGA Tour resumed following the coronavirus shutdown last year, including in the Memorial Tournament in the week when the Open should have been held.

Twelve months on, the 34-year-old comes into the event on the back of a tie for fourth in the US PGA Championship, another top-10 finish in the Memorial Tournament and a tie for 23rd in the Irish Open after a closing 66.

“I look back on 2020 as a season and, without making excuses too much, not playing in front of fans doesn’t do it for me,” Lowry added. “That’s just the way it is.

“I struggled last year coming out of lockdown. I was playing great. I’ve never played as much golf in my life, and I just was stale when I got out there. I just couldn’t get it going.

“Even little things like if you’re struggling to make a cut or if you’re down at the bottom of the field, having people out there on the golf course kind of spurs you on a little bit.

“Coming back here and having the big grandstands and having the crowds out there and everything that comes along with the Open Championship, I think that’s going to be pretty cool this week.

“Obviously there’s going to be high pressure at certain stages – you want to go out there and do as best you can. I’ve got a lot more on my mind, a lot more to play for than just defending the trophy.”

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