Shane Lowry: Webb Simpson cost me a few quid in Canada – but I was delighted for Graeme McDowell

I got a lot out of the week in Canada and to finish T2 was great heading into this week’s US Open.

I was actually doing interviews after my round when I heard the roar from the 18th green, so I knew that Webb Simpson had chipped to finish T2 with me. It cost me a few bob ($150k) and a few world ranking and FedEx Cup points too – but the money element doesn’t bother me.

I’ve never been one to look at what costs you – it would drive you mad.

I’d a good birdie on 17 and a good ‘up and down’ on 18, so I’d done all I could. Once I can walk off the 18th green knowing I couldn’t have done any more to improve my score, then I’m happy.

What helped in Canada, was that I putted great all week, holing quite a few 20-footers and tidied up the longer putts well to get down in two. Golf is a funny game and when I saw the course at Hamilton for the first time, I just knew I was going to enjoy it. It put me in a great frame of mind when I stood on the first tee at practice on Tuesday morning and loved it straight away. From then on, I played lovely.

It fitted into the schedule really well. All I wanted was to play four decent rounds ahead of Pebble Beach, but to be in contention again was great. This year has gone very well so far and that’s three top 10 finishes now on the PGA Tour with Canada, the US PGA Championship and Harbour Town. It’s probably the best start to a season I’ve ever had. My confidence is high and I’m enjoying it – that’s half the battle.

Just to be up there and feeling the heat of competition again is always good.

I saw Rory McIlroy briefly afterwards when I was doing a couple of interviews and said well done on winning. However, the person I was happiest for was Graeme McDowell who has now qualified for the Open Championship in his home town of Portrush.

I had dinner most nights with GMac last week and knew that the possibility of him missing the Open Championship in Northern Ireland was playing on his mind an awful lot.

So when I heard the roar when I was was on the 15th fairway, I asked one of the TV guys who it was for. Once he said it was GMac, I knew that he was very close to securing his place at Royal Portrush next month. That was great.

It would have been a tough week for him to be sitting in Florida watching on TV. He won’t have to answer any more questions about it in the media now and it could free him up to play some really good golf at Pebble Beach this week and over the next few weeks.