Shane Lowry proposes hilarious final prep for Portrush Open title defence

Shane Lowry jokes he just needs to play 's***' for the next couple of days of practice ahead of the 153rd Open Championship as he looks to go back to back in Portrush.

Although he admits he is "a little superstitious", the 2019 Claret Jug winner is not staying in the same house six years ago when he captured the heart of the nation by winning his first major title - and isn't attempting to replicate the build-up that led to a six-shot triumph in front of a jubilant home crowd.

He also admitted that he has "no God given right to do anything this week" as he tries to recreate the magic that made that week on the Dunluce Links one he will never forget.

"Yeah, it is amazing to be back," he said. "Look, obviously there's a lot of memories and there's a lot of thinking back to what I did.

"What I did was very special, and to walk down the 18th hole with a six-shot lead, I'm probably never going to do that again so I'm not going to try and replicate that this week. I'm just going to go out and try and play the tournament as well as I can this week.

"I've prepared as well as I can for this tournament. I know I have. Then it's just up to me to stay out of my own way on Thursday morning and go and get after it and see what happens."

But Lowry stresses his greatest success was six years ago now and that winning this week is a whole different ball game. "You look at what Rory (McIlroy) did in 2019 here - he's out there missing the cut and making 8 on the first and I remember at the time everyone thought, 'this is the end of the world, golf will never be the same'.," said the Offaly star.

"Then you move on and you forget about that pretty quick. I think you realise that what you do today isn't the end of the world. It really isn't - just apply yourself as well as you can and then go out and give it 100%. That's all you can do.

"As regards my own mental game, I've had a couple of episodes this year, but golf is hard at this level. And there's been times where, yes, I've been not at my best. But I feel like I'm pretty good at going out there and competing against the best in the world week in and week out and giving myself the best shot.

"I've put a bit of work into it over the years. I work with Bob Rotella a bit now, and Neil (Manchip, his coach) is obviously very influential in my whole kind of setup and getting ready for tournaments.

"I try to make myself feel ready when I go out to play. Weeks like Oakmont (at the US Open) where I massively underperformed, I just don't feel like I was sort of ready for what it was going to throw at me.

"Sometimes, honestly, I'm my own (worst enemy). Sometimes when everything is going really well, I get complacent. Then all of a sudden before I know it, I'm like 3-over through 5 and you start to have a panic because you feel like you're going to do well.

"I feel like when things are not going well I think is when I'm at my best, or when I don't feel like things are going well, like go back to 2019 here, I had a meltdown on the Wednesday because I thought I wasn't going to go out and play well.

"But then that focuses me in a little bit more. If I can keep my complacency away and my expectation down, that's when I'm at my best. How am I feeling? I'm feeling great the last two days, so that's not great!

"No, honestly, I've had a great week. I've had a great week of practice. I just need to play s*** for the next couple of days, and I'll be all right!".

Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.