Shane Lowry believes he has improved as a player since the Open Championship was last held at Royal Portrush in 2019, when he won his first major in spectacular fashion.
Lowry beat Tommy Fleetwood by six shots to win the 2019 Open, with a fine third round of 63 helping him stay clear of the pack.
The Irishman has not been able to replicate that success at subsequent majors, coming closest when he managed a T3 finish at the Masters in 2022.
He has missed the cut at two of the three majors to take place this year, also finishing tied for 42nd at Augusta National, but he expects to fare better around the Northern Irish course.
"Since 2019, apart from the Covid year, I feel my golf has been okay. It's been very consistent," Lowry told reporters on Monday.
"I've not won as much as I'd have liked, but it's hard to win out there and you have to keep going.
"I've got certain things I'd really like to achieve, but since 2019 I've been a different person and I feel I'm a better golfer than I was in 2019.
"That doesn't mean I'll go out and win my second, but as a golfer, you always have to look at it with the glass half full."
Lowry remains the most recent European to win the Open. In the last four editions, three Americans – Collin Morikawa, Brian Harman and Xander Schauffele – and one Australian – Cameron Smith – have claimed the Claret Jug.
Reflecting on the dominant manner of his 2019 success, Lowry added: "I celebrated pretty well! When you win, you need to celebrate those victories, and I did that.
"What I did was special, walking down 18 with a six-shot lead, I'll probably never do that again, so I won't try to replicate it!
"I've prepared as well as I can for this tournament, it's up to me to stay out my own way."
This week's tournament will mark Lowry's 50th major appearance. No player from outside the United Kingdom or Ireland has won the Open at Portrush, with England's Max Faulkner triumphing when the course first staged the event in 1951.
Lowry's close friend Rory McIlroy is among the favourites on home soil, having completed a career grand slam with his success at the Masters in April.
Lowry knows McIlroy will be highly motivated to cap a special year with his sixth major crown, saying: "He's done everything there is to do. His constant drive to go out and do better is admirable."
"It is a big event for all us Irish people this week, it's huge. All we want to do is go out and give ourselves the best chance."
