Palm Beach Gardens, FL …

Shane Lowry’s return to the US this year could not have got off to a better start in shaking hands with legendary Jack Nicklaus.

Lowry arrived into the States late last Sunday night on a charter flight out of Mexico City following his top-30 finish at the WGC – Mexico Championship.

The Open Champion headed straight to his Ballen Isles estate residence and the Lowry’s rented premises in Florida’s Palm Beach Gardens for the next six months.

First stop Monday was the short 10-minute drive north to the exclusive Bears Club to honour an invitation by the 18-time Major winning Nicklaus to compete in an annual charity event hosted by the ‘Golden Bear’.

Lowry’s a member of the ultra-exclusive Bears Club just off Donald Ross Drive so no need for the ‘Sat Nav’.

Golden Bear Jack Nicklans and a winner of the Open in 1966, 1970 and 1978l

Then how does one react, and even as a reigning Major Champion, when the player who has won the most Majors in the history of the game reaches out to shake your hand?

What a moment for Ireland’s newest Major winner.

“Mr. Nicklaus was there to greet each of us and while I had met him before at the club, it was pretty special getting to shake his hand as the Open Champion,” said Lowry.

“He had written me a nice letter to me after I won The Open saying what a great accomplishment it was, so it was extra-special on Monday to again thank him for that though I’ve got a few more Majors to win before I can catch-up with his record (smiling).”

And Nicklaus seemed to be repaying the compliment to Nicklaus when it comes to Lowry tackling the famed ‘Bear Trap’, and three hole stretch at 15, 16 and 17 on the PGA National course.

After two rounds of the Honda Classic Lowry is two-under par for the ‘Bear Trap’ with the Clara golfer managing to birdie the par-3 15th both days and walk off with well-earned pars at 16 and 17.