Jason Day has put his WGC-Bridgestone Invitational disappointment behind him and is fully focused on challenging for a maiden Open victory at Royal Troon.
The world No 1 took a one-shot lead into the weekend in Akron at the beginning of July and still held a narrow advantage with four holes to play, only to bogey the 15th and double-bogey the next to lose out to US Open champion Dustin Johnson.
Despite failing to hold on to top spot and missing out on a fourth win of the year, Day feels he can take encouragement from his week in Ohio as he looks to lift the Claret Jug for the first time.
"I'm just trying to get as good as I can and the only way to do that is to learn from failure, and the way you look at it is not in a negative way," Day told a pre-Open press conference on Monday. "You have to look at it in a positive light.
"Even though I don't like losing, it was great to be able to learn something from that and turn this into what I would say was a learning experience and try to move forward and get better from it.
"If I can do that, then you can't do anything but go up. It was a terrible way to lose and it was frustrating and disappointing, but you can't win them all and that's just the way of life.
"I think the stress of being world No 1 is more of a motivating factor for me, just because I don't want to lose it.
"It's really important for me to make sure that I stick to my process and do all the hard work that I can to try to stay there, and try to extend that lead to really give myself that gap."
Day, who tees off alongside Masters champion Danny Willett and world No 7 Rickie Fowler in the opening two rounds, played full practice rounds at Troon on Saturday and Sunday as he looks to go one better than his near-miss at St Andrews last year, where he finished one shot short of joining eventual winner Zach Johnson in a play-off.
"I'm very excited to be here and looking forward to a nice, challenging week," Day added. "Coming so close last year was definitely a motivational factor in that I would love to one day hold the Claret Jug.
"Just to be able to be called the Champion Golfer of the Year would be fantastic. The greats have all held the trophy and to be able to hold that once in my career would be very pleasing and satisfying.
"I get excited to be able to play the Open Championship, not only because of the fans itself but because of how challenging the golf course is, and the weather.
"You have to somehow adapt your game to the weather and the golf course and really plot yourself around these golf courses."
Watch the Open throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Daily preview shows are live from Royal Troon on Monday to Wednesday, ahead of full coverage getting underway from 6.30am on Thursday.