Shane Lowry lets it all out as US Open star defends behaviour and reveals sad text to wife

Shane Lowry has opened up on the sad text message he sent to his wife in the lead up to this weekend's US Open. Despite a year filled with strong performances, the 38-year-old golf star has been unable to secure an individual win in a drought that dates back six years.

Recently tying for 13th at the RBC Canadian Open in Toronto, Lowry's lack of wins is taking its toll. And the Offaly-born sensation is determined to make his mark at Oakmont Country Club, a place that holds bittersweet memories. It was here that Lowry let a four-stroke lead slip through his grasp at the 2016 US Open, paving the way for Dustin Johnson to steal in and secure his maiden major title. Lowry disclosed a poignant text exchange with his wife, Wendy, ahead of his return to the venue. And he aired his frustrations amid the ongoing quest to break his winless streak.

"It's frustrating. It's hard," he said during an interview with The Irish Times in Pennsylvania. "I said it to Wendy [after the Canadian Open], you come off the golf course again on Sunday. And she texts me and said, 'How do you feel?' And I said, 'To be honest, I just feel like it's like this every Sunday evening,' just pure disappointment."

"And it's hard to take when you feel like you're putting so much time and effort in and time away from your family and your kids and, you know, these Sundays have become quite difficult. But that comes from good golf, expectation, the want to succeed, and not being happy with second best.

"Some people would say, 'You're having a great year,' and I am, there's no doubt about that, I'm playing great golf this year – but there's one thing missing. I don't want to win every tournament, just want to win one or two."

Lowry enjoyed success as a team alongside Rory McIlroy at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans last year. But even that team triumph won't quite match the fulfilment of the individual glory Lowry is seeking.

His sole major title remains his win at The Open in 2019. And despite the camaraderie with McIlroy, with whom he is paired for the first two rounds at Oakmont, Lowry is eager to finally end his hoodoo in the solo stakes.

Lowry's passion for the game is evident, and he doesn't hide his emotions on the course, often displaying his frustrations for all to see. This raw display of emotion is a genuine aspect of his character, though, and he shows no signs of suppressing it.

"I'm just a competitive person," he said (via The Mirror US). "I don't think it gets in my way at all any more, right? I'd be honest, it probably did back in the past, but certainly I don't think it gets in my way any more. I'm well able to get over shots now; yes, it might look like, if you're watching on TV, it might look like what it is, but that's literally to show you for maybe 10 seconds after you hit your shot, you've got plenty of time before the next shot.

"I'm hard on myself because I want it so much because, like I say, I put so much into it, and I know what [winning] tastes like. You just want it again, but, you know, that's the way I've been my whole career. I've been out here quite a long time now. I don't think I'm changing anytime soon."

As Thursday approaches, there's talk of the rough at Oakmont and the possibility of it throwing a spanner in the works for the favourites. Then again, that could be just the right amount of chaos for a name like Lowry to steal in and finally put an end to his misery.