Hometown hero Shane Lowry won the Open in 2019 at Royal Porthush, ending his second round with high spirits in this year’s match as he broke away from the two-goal match under PAR.
But his mood and his chances of portraying double double quickly deteriorated.
The club’s R&A officials told the Northern Irish that he was hit with a two-point free throw after the practice swing on the 12th hole, which was said to have caused the ball to move subtly.
Lowry barely accepted the fine and dropped to par level, hitting 2025 Open leader Scottie Scheffler about 10 times.
After a disappointment, the 2019 champion said: “I told them that when I practiced my swing, I was definitely heading towards the ball.”
He accepted the punishment, showing his integrity: “The last thing I have to do is sit there and argue without punishment and then be slaughtered on social media tonight for cheating.”
But a new angle has the potential to confirm that Lowry’s ball did move during the 38-year-old’s practice swing, and that the penalty was fair.
The new, tighter camera angle suggests that the R&A’s ruling may be correct as it shows Lowry’s golf.
punish? Does Shane Lowry cause the ball to move? #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/v0umwhix36
– Jason Krump (@Jasonkrump) July 18, 2025
Despite accepting the fine generously, Lowry thought the situation could be handled better: “I didn’t know anything happened until I walked onto the 15th fairway and then the rule officer came and told me that my second shot was the possibility of the 12th hole.”
“I was there in the case of the Rules Officer and didn’t argue about my case, but I was disappointed that they didn’t have more camera angles. Slow motion magnification – they told me if it wasn’t moving from the naked eye and if you can’t see it moving, it won’t move.”
Northern Ireland duo needs a big Saturday to hunt in their homes
Lowry needs to make up for serious stance and hope others want to challenge a second open title at Royal Prothush.
It’s a day of moving and if he wants to cheer up home fans on the last 18 holes of the 2025 Open Championship, he will need to play the best golf.
Elsewhere, Rory McIlroy will have support from a home country, with a large number of support groups looking to push him forward as he hopes to be challenged in the following three challenges below Moving Day.
From County Down to No. 2 in the world in 2025, his Masters Championship and Green Jacket have already won a major title, giving him a coveted professional grand slam.
If McIlroy wants to keep in touch with the 36-hole leader, while the world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler stays in touch with 10 points under PAR.
To be sure: With the 2025 Open unfolding, the party crowd on the weekend will be far behind their two competitions.
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