SHANE LOWRY’S OPEN challenge has been derailed by a two-shot penalty imposed by tournament officials after his second round.
Lowry shot a one-under round of 70 on the course, but was informed by a rules official while walking on the 15th fairway that he would have to sit down with officials after the round to review footage of an incident on the 12th hole.
While taking a practice swing from the rough on the 12th hole, slow-mo footage showed Lowry’s ball appearing to move. Though the club did not touch the ball, it hit a blade of grass which in turn caused the ball to move.
After Lowry left the 18th green to raucous cheers from Irish supporters, his mood abruptly shifted as he reviewed footage with the rules officials.
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He sought another video angle showing him looking at the ball, which he said would show that he looked at the ball and did not believe it to have moved, thus disproving any allegations he saw the ball move and did not call it.
That footage was not forthcoming. Lowry then accepted a two-shot penalty, meaning he technically carded a one-over round of 72, and is now at even-par for the tournament, fully 10 shots behind leader Scottie Scheffler.
Calling the penalty on Lowry was the correct call.
It’s unfortunate, but the penalty was the correct call.
— Lou Stagner (Golf Stat Pro) (@LouStagner) July 18, 2025
“I was in there with the rules official and I wasn’t arguing my case, but I’m disappointed that they don’t have more camera angles on it”, said Lowry. “The one zoomed in slow motion: they’re trying to tell me if it doesn’t move from the naked eye, if you don’t see it moving, it didn’t move. I told them I definitely was looking down towards the ball as I was taking that practice swing, and I didn’t see it move.
“But I had to take the penalty because I can’t have my name talked about or tossed around like that, and I just get on with it.
“It’s obviously very disappointing. I felt like I played really, really well today. And yeah, that’s hard to take.
“I think they [tournament officials] had it in their heads the ball moved, I caused it to move, it’s a two-shot penalty. They only had one camera angle which was zoomed in at the ball. They had none of me actually full length, which we were looking for and needed.
“[It feels] a little bit [unfair], but if the ball moved and I caused it to move and it moved, it’s a two-shot penalty. The last thing I want to do is sit there and argue and not take the penalty and then get slaughtered all over social media tonight for being a cheat.
“If the ball moved, I would have called it on myself. My head was definitely looking down at the ball and I didn’t see it moving. But I’m out there signing for a 72 there now”
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'I can't have my name tossed around like that' - Lowry's Open challenge derailed by two-shot post-round penalty
LAST UPDATE | 18 Jul
SHANE LOWRY’S OPEN challenge has been derailed by a two-shot penalty imposed by tournament officials after his second round.
Lowry shot a one-under round of 70 on the course, but was informed by a rules official while walking on the 15th fairway that he would have to sit down with officials after the round to review footage of an incident on the 12th hole.
While taking a practice swing from the rough on the 12th hole, slow-mo footage showed Lowry’s ball appearing to move. Though the club did not touch the ball, it hit a blade of grass which in turn caused the ball to move.
After Lowry left the 18th green to raucous cheers from Irish supporters, his mood abruptly shifted as he reviewed footage with the rules officials.
He sought another video angle showing him looking at the ball, which he said would show that he looked at the ball and did not believe it to have moved, thus disproving any allegations he saw the ball move and did not call it.
That footage was not forthcoming. Lowry then accepted a two-shot penalty, meaning he technically carded a one-over round of 72, and is now at even-par for the tournament, fully 10 shots behind leader Scottie Scheffler.
“I was in there with the rules official and I wasn’t arguing my case, but I’m disappointed that they don’t have more camera angles on it”, said Lowry. “The one zoomed in slow motion: they’re trying to tell me if it doesn’t move from the naked eye, if you don’t see it moving, it didn’t move. I told them I definitely was looking down towards the ball as I was taking that practice swing, and I didn’t see it move.
“But I had to take the penalty because I can’t have my name talked about or tossed around like that, and I just get on with it.
“It’s obviously very disappointing. I felt like I played really, really well today. And yeah, that’s hard to take.
“I think they [tournament officials] had it in their heads the ball moved, I caused it to move, it’s a two-shot penalty. They only had one camera angle which was zoomed in at the ball. They had none of me actually full length, which we were looking for and needed.
“[It feels] a little bit [unfair], but if the ball moved and I caused it to move and it moved, it’s a two-shot penalty. The last thing I want to do is sit there and argue and not take the penalty and then get slaughtered all over social media tonight for being a cheat.
“If the ball moved, I would have called it on myself. My head was definitely looking down at the ball and I didn’t see it moving. But I’m out there signing for a 72 there now”
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Golf paying the penalty Shane Lowry the open 2025