{"id":435860,"date":"2025-07-19T06:45:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T06:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/golf\/?p=435860"},"modified":"2025-07-19T06:45:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T06:45:17","slug":"shane-lowry-hit-with-two-stroke-penalty-at-the-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/golf\/shane-lowry-hit-with-two-stroke-penalty-at-the-open\/","title":{"rendered":"Shane Lowry Hit with Two-Stroke Penalty at The Open"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shane Lowry\u2019s<\/a> hopes of winning his second Open Championship took a big hit on Friday after he was handed a two-shot penalty during his second round at Royal Portrush<\/a>. The penalty came after a review showed his ball had moved during a practice swing on the 12th hole, but Lowry insisted he didn\u2019t notice at the time.<\/p>\n

Penalty Call Hard For Lowry To Take<\/h2>\n

The 2019 Open champion<\/a> had put in impressive performances and was well in contention before the incident. Lowry was in the thick rough and took a practice swing on the par-5 12th hole. Video replay later showed the ball moved slightly during that swing, which is against the rules if it happens before making a stroke.<\/p>\n

Officials noticed a possible rules breach and informed Lowry while he was still playing. They told him on the 15th hole that there might be an issue. After finishing his round, which he initially thought was a 70, officials brought him into the scoring trailer to review the footage. The review took nearly 20 minutes. Only one camera angle was available, and while it wasn\u2019t clear to the naked eye, it did show the ball shifting slightly. Lowry says he didn\u2019t feel or see anything during the swing, however, he accepted the penalty.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m still not sure whether the ball moved or not,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I had to take the penalty. I\u2019m still not sure, to be honest, whether it was or not, but I had to take the penalty because I can\u2019t have my name talked about or tossed around like that, and I just had to get on with it. It\u2019s obviously very disappointing. I felt like I played really, really well today. That\u2019s hard to take.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lowry Expresses Frustration With Ruling<\/h2>\n

The penalty changed his par on the 12th hole into a double bogey, turning a 70 into a 72. That dropped him from 2-under to even par for the tournament, leaving him 10 shots behind the leader, Scottie Scheffler. Lowry didn’t mince words when expressing his frustrations at both the ruling and the process that led to it.<\/p>\n

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Jul 18, 2025; Portrush, IRL; Shane Lowry reacts after missing a putt on the 12th hole during the second round of The 153rd Open Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI was in there with the rules official and wasn\u2019t arguing my case but I\u2019m disappointed that they don\u2019t have more camera angles on it,\u201d Lowry said. \u201cThe one zoomed in slow motion \u2026 they\u2019re trying to tell me if it doesn\u2019t move from the naked eye, if you don\u2019t see it moving, it didn\u2019t move. I told them I definitely was looking down towards the ball as I was taking that practice swing and I didn\u2019t see it move.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Shane Lowry’s full post-round comments with the media after receiving a two-stroke penalty. \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f<\/p>\n

Learn more: https:\/\/t.co\/MpJJaqhK2W<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/6Qh87ELWof<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) July 18, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n