After every round of the Open 2025 Championship, check out our writers and editors’ unfiltered opinions when breaking the title’s hottest topics and join the conversation by posting us on Tweetterweetter @Golf_Com.
Shane Lowry was given two free throws after being determined to be on the 12th hole practice swing in the second round of the Open Championship, which moved his ball. Instead of replacing it in the original position, Lowry hits his approach shot, which triggers rule review. Lowry was told about the 15th hole comment and told him that he needed to come in and watch the video after the turn. According to R&A rules, if the player moves the ball, there is no penalty, but the “numerous eyes” are unclear. Lowry discussed the incident with Rules officials after the turn and accepted the fine.
Lowry was asked about the fine after the round and whether he thought it was a fair ruling.
“They tried to tell me if it wasn’t moving from the naked eye, and if you can’t see it moving, it won’t move,” Laurie said. “I told them that when I was taking the practice swing, I was definitely looking at the ball, I didn’t see it moving. But I had to punish because – I’m still not sure, whether it was or not, but I had to accept the punishment because I couldn’t get my name to talk about or throw it away, and it was obviously disappointed.. ”
Is the ruling unfair?
James Colgan, News and Featured Editor (@jamescolgan26): Well, yes. If you need 20 minutes to determine through slow shots that if a violation occurs, you may not be required to enforce the fine in the first place.
Josh Schrock, News Editor (@schrock_and_awe): The “natal eye” rule came into effect in 2013 to be independent of enhanced technical evidence. If Lowry says he doesn’t see the ball moving, that’s that. It feels like what Mike Davis-led USGA will achieve, not R&A.
Nick Piastowski, Senior Editor (@nickpia): Yes. If that person says he doesn’t see it, he doesn’t see it. We seem to pay tribute to them only when we are punished, which is trendy to me. If you want Lowry to be punished, you should want to have a video comment without asking questions (I don’t think you should be that).
Josh Sens, Senior Writer (@Joshsens): It’s definitely a goal. Thanks to Lowry, because they didn’t have the odor of puberty for it. But if he had it, it was no wonder.
Senior writer Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier): I’m not entirely sure if this should be a fine, but it’s stupid two Stroke. If it is believed that he has moved the ball, treat it as one and move on. It is totally illogical that it costs more to hit the ball by chance rather than to hit it intentionally.
