
Shane Lowry in rules breach controversy at The Open as furious star yells ‘f*** this place' in frustration
And it came just after he furiously shouted "f*** this place" in a blazing rant on Friday evening.
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Shane Lowry appeared to make the ball move with his practice swing
Credit: Sky Sports
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The ball nudged ever so slightly backwards
Credit: Sky Sports
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The rules controversy came on the hole after his X-rated outburst
Credit: Sky Sports
Lowry, 38, had gone bogey-free for the first ten holes to get to -2.
But his wayward tee shot on 11 spooned left, causing him to yell out the expletive in anger.
Incredibly, it is the third different Major out of four this year where Lowry has used the X-rated phrase.
And commentator Ewan Murray said on Sky Sports Golf: "Sorry about the language slipping through there."
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Irishman Lowry - champion at Portrush in 2019 - bogeyed the hole.
Then on the very next hole, he found the rough when his tee shot drifted left on the par-5 12th hole.
Lowry headed over to his ball and tried to figure out how he could recover.
But as he swung his club head through the long grass,
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On the replay, it just seems to nudge backwards fractionally.
Lowry nor his caddie noticed the tiny motion at the time and therefore the world No18 did not call it on himself.
Tense moment as furious Jon Rahm confronts golf fan at The Open
But the TV commentators and golf fans watching the action at home highlighted the incident.
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One social media user said: "Did Shane Lowry's ball move juuuuust a tad on that practice swing??"
Another wrote: "If they don't stroke Lowry we're going to have major major problems."
A third asked: "Did anyone else see this? Saw it live. Looked like Lowry's practice swing moved the ball. What do you all see?"
And a fourth added: "The ball clearly moved. This whole 'did he see it' or not issue should be irrelevant. He clearly caused the ball to move when he took the practice swing."
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When he made his actual shot, Lowry played into a bunker but still made par.
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It is understood the R&A noted the incident and would review the video then speak to Lowry after his round - a one-under-par 70 to go to -2 - to determine any punishment.
But if found guilty, he could be slapped with a brutal two-stroke penalty.
Golf rules state: "
If you take a practice swing and cause your ball to move, you still have not made a stroke, but you will get a one-stroke penalty for moving your ball in play.
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"
The ball must be replaced on its original spot. If the player instead plays the ball from where it was moved to after their practice swing, it becomes a two-stroke penalty
."
And at one stage that threatened to see him suffer the ultimate punishment of missing the cut.
Lowry's X-rated outburst came 24 hours after
Fleetwood was left fuming when his ball landed in a bunker that had not been raked.
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Lowry did not call the possible foul on himself
Credit: Reuters
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Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Letters to the Editor: Shane Lowry displayed true dignity and honesty at The Open
In a world too often clouded by conflict, ugliness, division, and noise, there are rare moments that break through like sunlight, reminding us of who we are and who we still can be. One of those moments came not from a political podium or a viral speech, but from a simple, genuine gesture on the windswept fairways of Portrush at The Open Championship and from the heart of a man many of us know not just as a golfer, but as one of our own, Shane Lowry. With pressure mounting and dreams on the line, Shane made a decision that won't earn him a trophy but will stay with many of us far longer. He called a two-stroke penalty on himself. The footage was inconclusive. He could have argued. He could have walked away. But Shane chose honour. He chose truth and the strength of choosing what is right, even when no one would blame him for doing otherwise. In doing so, he reminded the world of something far greater than sport, he reminded us of dignity. He reminded us that the soul of sport and of life lies not in winning, but in how we carry ourselves through it all. To those of us from Clara and Co Offaly, where Shane was born and raised, this act did not come as a surprise. Because Shane is Clara and Offaly through and through. He's the child of good people, the grandson of kind hearts, raised in a town where your name matters, where people care, and where values like humility, respect, compassion, and quiet strength are woven into the fabric of every family and every street. Clara is a small but deeply proud town, a place where people know your story, where values like decency, kindness, humility, and integrity are lived daily, not just spoken about. Shane carries that spirit in every swing, in every quiet moment when no one is watching, though this weekend, the world was. For those of us from Clara and Offaly, it didn't surprise us in the least. Shane didn't just show us the kind of golfer he is. 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We in Clara and Offaly are proud beyond words, not only of Shane's sporting achievements, but of the countless ways he gives back: supporting families, supporting young people all over the county, lifting people in need, and remembering always where he comes from. He makes us proud not just when he's holding a trophy, but when he shows the world that character still matters. That the smallest, unseen choices often define us the most. In a time when hope can feel fragile, Shane Lowry reminded us of something enduring, that integrity still shines, that honesty and quiet courage still counts. That love for your roots, for your people, and for doing the right thing, no matter the cost is what truly defines greatness and that when everything is on the line, the most courageous swing is the one guided by truth. From all of us in Clara and Offaly, Shane, we're not just behind you cheering you on, we're beside you, always. 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