SHANE LOWRY knows there is no fast-tracking in the professional game, that your rewards come through hard work.

Yesterday, as he returned to Baltray for a corporate gig on the anniversary of his famous breakthrough win in last year’s 3 Irish Open, the Offalyman – sharing jokes and demonstrating his shot-making to wide-eyed clients – revealed his serious intent by confirming he will try to qualify for next month’s US Open at Pebble Beach and the British Open at St Andrews in July.

“The majors, that’s where I want to be,” said Lowry, who made a reconnaissance visit last week to Walton Heath for a couple of rounds ahead of the US Open international qualifying which takes place there next Monday.

“I feel, with a bit of work, I have got the game to compete in majors. Okay, that’s a couple of years down the line, but to get the experience you need to be playing them. I’ll go there (to Walton Heath) and see what happens.”

Nevertheless, it’s a statement of intent from Lowry, now 95th in the world rankings – sandwiched between Brandt Snedeker and Derek Lamely – that he will pursue qualifying places for the majors and shows just how far he has come in a year on tour following his win, as an amateur, in the Irish Open.

This week, Lowry will be part of the world-class field in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, having turned down the chance to play there last year as he took time out before declaring his move into the professional game.

In truth, the decision to turn pro was made as soon as he holed the winning putt to beat Robert Rock in the play-off.

“I knew walking up this pathway I was going to do it,” he remarked. “It was a no-brainer for me, really. If I hadn’t turned pro, I’d be four months behind where I am now.”

Of Wentworth, which he visited with his caddie, Dermot Byrne, last week to view the dramatic changes carried out, he remarked: “I think it is the type of course that might suit me. You need to be good off the tee and there is a lot of long irons into greens, which I’ve improved over the last while. Again, it is all about the putting . . . if I can hole a few putts!”

Lowry’s best finish this season is fourth in the Abu Dhabi Championship, and he has made the cut in eight of 11 tournaments in his quest to make the field for the Race to Dubai at season’s end.

“I’ve had a few bad weeks and a few good weeks. The bad weeks are to be expected, I suppose, and I have worked hard enough, I think, to deserve the good weeks that I get.

“But I feel I can go out there and compete at the highest level . . . I take it one tournament at a time and try to compete in every tournament.”