The Open gets worse for Shane Lowry as he's hit with vomiting bug hours after two-shot penalty
reports from Royal Portrush
SO SHANE, APART from the irritating questions about drinking from the American media, the stone-cold putter, the squalls of bone-drenching rain, the two-shot penalty and now the vomiting bug. . . how's your Open Championship week been?
It was on Saturday at Portrush in 2019 that Lowry put together the greatest round of his career, a 63 during which he told his caddie they must enjoy the closing two holes and after which he clamped one hand on the Claret Jug.
But 313 Saturday afternoons later and the Golfing Gods have wreaked their vengeance on Shane Lowry. Their retribution may not be swift. . . but it will be brutal all the same.
On a day of benign conditions, Lowry was bumped miles down the leaderboard with a third-round card that ended with a 74 but did not adequately express his torture.
The picture of him lying flat on his back on the ninth fairway as he and playing partner Jon Rahm waited for the green to clear was much more evocative.
Lowry awoke at 2.30am this morning with a stomach screaming sedition, realising it was his turn to contract a vomiting bug that had careened through his household all week.
A few hours earlier, the R&A had left him with another kind of sickening feeling, as they gave him a two-stroke, post-round penalty for unwitting moving his ball during a practice swing on the 12th hole.
Lowry insisted he did not know his ball had moved: otherwise he would have replaced it. The impassive tournament organisers pinged him one shot for not replacing his ball and another shot for then playing it from the wrong position.
It meant sliding back to even-par and an earlier start than expected, depriving him of a chance to watch some of the Lions' Test against Australia.
But then he awoke even earlier than planned.
Advertisement
'I haven't eaten today yet', sighed Lowry in a press engagement that zapped the last of his diminished energy.
'I tried to get a protein drink down me after eight holes, and I felt like throwing up all over the place. Yeah, it's been a tough day, but I'm not going to make excuses. I played poorly today and obviously had a bad finish.
'I woke up at 2:30 with cramps in my stomach. I know we have it in the house. [Daughter] Ivy had it a couple of days ago, [wife] Wendy had it yesterday. Me and [daughter] Iris have it today.
'Honestly, every bathroom I went in and tried to throw up, I couldn't. It's just such a bad feeling. I think lack of energy towards the end maybe did me in. Look, I don't want to make excuses. It is what it is.'
Lowry had to take a penalty drop on the second hole to make bogey at the first par-five of the day, and from there his putter refused to return any yield on investment, missing birdie looks on seven and eight before holing from 25 feet for par after his brief rest on nine.
He found birdies on 10 and 13 before the round blew up, hooking left off the 14th tee on his way to a triple-bogey seven. Another bogey on seven put the tin hat on things.
'I felt like I ground it out really well to get to one-under for the day through 13″, he said. 'Then a bad shot on 14 and a little bit of a bad break as well.
'The annoying thing for me today is I didn't get to enjoy today as much as I would have liked. Saturday at The Open in your home country: I should enjoy it a lot more than I did, just because of how I felt.'
He wasn't in the mood to talk any more about last night's penalty, though did say the reaction among his fellow players has been one of sympathy. If there's an upside to all of this torment, then Sunday surely can't be any worse.
Plus, there's a silver lining to being hit with the virus midway through the Open.
'It will be gone by the holidays next week. So at least that's a plus.'
Written by Gavin Cooney and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe
here
.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Bryson DeChambeau fires mind-game warning to Rory McIlroy ahead of Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black
BRYSON Dechambeau looks all but guaranteed to be part of Keegan Bradley's U.S. Ryder Cup team this September at Bethpage Black. The 31-year-old 2 Crushers GC's Bryson DeChambeau says he'll be in Rory McIlroy's ear if they play against one another during this year's Ryder Cup match in NY 2 The pair have a history of tense battles at major championships - most notably the 2024 US Open And Following the Open Championship, Team USA captain Keegan Bradley highlighted DeChambeau's value in a message. Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Captain America all but confirmed that Dechambeau will be part of his team in New York against Europe. Bradley said: 'Bryson is going to be a very important piece to us winning the Ryder Cup,' Bradley told Sports Illustrated in a text message Sunday night: 'He brings so much. He brings energy, passion but most importantly, he's one of the best players on the planet.' read more on golf On Monday, DeChambeau attended the premiere of Happy Gilmore 2, which was released on Netflix on Friday. And during the first screening on the 90s hit sequel, the social media icon shared Speaking to People, Bryson made it clear he'd be taking a more vocal approach this time around. The two-time US Open champions said: 'I'll be chirping in his ear this time. Most read in Golf "Now, if we go up against each other, I mean you can be sure of it. "I'll get into his ear a little bit.' Darts star Luke Littler tries out brand new sport and fans reckon they know where he learned his technique The pair last squared off in the final group of the 2025 Masters, where DeChambeau later drew attention for revealing that McIlroy didn't speak to him throughout their round. The previously jousted during their infamous battle at the 2024 US open, where the American sealed his second major title. The world's most prestigious
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Shane Lowry Insists Team Europe will be ‘prepared' for raucous Ryder Cup crowd at Bethpage Black in New York
SHANE LOWRY insists Luke Donald will have Team Europe prepared for a hostile reception from some fans at the 2025 Ryder Cup in New York. The world's most prestigious Advertisement 2 Shane Lowry says Luke Donald will prepare Team Europe for everything and anything as they head to New York in September 2 Shane Lowry says Team Europe will be ready for the passionate crowd at Bethpage Black And the task at hand for the holders of the famous trophy will be all the more challenging as they look to retain it on US soil. Tempers have flared on and off the course in recent years at the famous match - something The New York crowd are renowned for their patriotic passion, and the European players are expecting a boisterous atmosphere on foreign soil. Advertisement read more on golf But he insists they will be prepared for everything and anything come Friday, September 26. When asked about how European players may handle the away crowd, the Clara native insisted that their skipper will have them ready. He said: 'Yeah, we've talked about it... there's no doubt we've talked about it. 'But it's still ongoing, and you have to figure out a way to deal with certain stuff. Advertisement Most read in Golf 'It might not be as bad as they say - people say it will be bad, but we'll see. 'I think if you're prepared for something, you'll deal with it okay; I think when something happens and you're not prepared for it, that's when it gets hard... Darts star Luke Littler tries out brand new sport and fans reckon they know where he learned his technique 'But we'll be prepared — Luke Donald will prepare his team very well - and we'll be ready to go.' 2019 Open champion Lowry is excited about the task at hand - although the Irishman has not yet qualified, it is expected he would be selected by skipper Luke Donald if he fails to qualify automatically in the standings. Advertisement One person who won't attending is Xander Schauffele's father, the Team USA player's father Stefan Schauffele told
Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
‘This game might be completely different': Andy Farrell warns Lions to expect kick from wounded Wallabies
Australia v British & Irish Lions Venue : The MCG, Melbourne Kick-off : 8pm local time/11am Irish On TV : Live on Sky Sports Rugby, like most sport, doesn't always do logic. And if a week is a long time in politics, as Harold Wilson once said, then it can certainly be true in rugby, not least when the same teams meet again seven days later. This is all the truer in the context of a Lions Test series. READ MORE The sense of a major sporting occasion has been more acute in Melbourne than in Brisbane, as the 40,000 strong Red Army, comprising supporters who have travelled from Ireland and the UK and the thousands of expats based in Australia, began to descend upon the city. Honestly, there's so many Irish about it almost feels like being at home. This accentuated the normal buzz of a Friday night on the riverfront or in central Melbourne and the bars were rammed. It feels like the city has just stopped for one long partying and sporting weekend. The vast bulk of Lions fans will have done so in confident expectation that their team will be complete a series clinching 2-0 win. Yet history has taught us that winning the First Test counts for little or nothing come kick-off a week later. Indeed, it can often work against the winners as the losers have perhaps the most powerful motive in sport: revenge. What's more, in a three-match series the vanquished team in the first Test are in do-or-die mode. It happened here in this city in 2013 and again four years later in New Zealand, when the Lions recovered from losing the first Test 30-15 to win the second in Wellington 24-21 a week later. Four years ago the Springboks completed a 23-point turnaround from the first to the second Tests. Andy Farrell was part of the Lions coaching ticket on those tours to Australia and New Zealand and he has also overseen Irish sides recovering from losing a first Test by winning the second a week later away to the All Blacks and the Springboks . The better side one week isn't always the superior side; as with the Lions in 2017, Ireland would have been underdogs on both occasions. It can be done and often is done. Furthermore, every match is shaped by its opening engagements and thereafter assumes its own narrative. All the more so if, say, the Wallabies score an early try. Backed into a corner, Australian sides and their supporters love to come out fighting. They did it in 2001 and in 2013 when avenging a first Test defeat in Brisbane by winning the second in Melbourne, going on to win the series on the former occasion before losing the Sydney decider a dozen years ago. Bundee Aki bowls during a warm-up cricket match during British & Irish Lions training at the MCG Stadium on Friday. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty 'This game might be completely different,' Farrell said. 'We might have a role reversal and we have to adapt and be honest with ourselves and stay on point if we are in front or if we are behind, things going your way, not going your way. It is just staying honest as long as we possibly can.' The first Test was also played in sunny Brisbane, but the forecast for Saturday evening here in Melbourne, although changeable, is promising rain and plenty of it, adding to the vagaries. 'Somebody's looking at it [weather forecast] 10 times a day at the minute,' Farrell said with a rueful smile. 'We expect it to be wet, but sometimes somebody tells me a completely different story to what someone else told me five minutes before. It is what it is. We've got to play the game that's in front of us. We'll be ready for all those different types of scenarios.' One ventures this is partly why Farrell has installed Bundee Aki from the start, while moving Ellis Genge to the bench and having the safety net of his son Owen's vast experience to draw on in a call that looks like it will give the Lions better oomph off the bench. But then again that is assuredly so from the off with the Wallabies, given Joe Schmidt has reinstated Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, whose combined weight is 253kg. 'We didn't have the intention last week, and we don't have the intention this week, of being submissive,' Schmidt said. 'I just think that they played on the edge really well. They got in among us, sometimes just beside us, which made it very hard to play, and we're hopeful that we will be able to take that to them this week and keep them on the back foot a little bit more.' The Australian Wallabies players stretch during training at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday. Photograph: William West/Getty Schmidt and the Wallabies believe they could have executed plenty of moments a little better, didn't get the lineout platforms they are capable of, didn't generally get the rub of the green and that they were much closer to the Lions than is widely thought. Whereas the Wallabies are fighting for their lives, the Lions are hunting for the kill, but will the likes of Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry, for example, scale the extraordinary heights of last week? And although Ollie Chessum and James Ryan are like-for-like promotions in the absence of Joe McCarthy , will the latter be missed? After such a prolonged build-up to the first Test, can the Lions reach the same emotional pitch again? 'It shouldn't be because that's all here, in the head,' Farrell said. 'I suppose everyone is a human being. But if you look at it from an Australian point of view, they played the same 80 minutes, the same contest. 'It cannot be the case that they're more up for this game because they're in the exact same scenario. The only contradiction would be that they're emotionally more up for it, so that can't be part of it for us.' This second Test could well have more ebbs and flows, feel more competitive and generate a different kind of energy and atmosphere among the 90,000 fans. But if Farrell and co have the Lions primed – and they have looked ruthlessly focused from the outset of the tour with only family visitors and treks to cafes offering much in the way of a distraction – then a week on they actually should be the better team again. Australia : Tom Wright (Brumbies); Max Jorgensen (Force), Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (Waratahs), Len Ikitau (Brumbies); Harry Potter (Waratahs); Tom Lynagh (Reds), Jake Gordon (Waratahs); James Slipper (Brumbies), David Porecki (Waratahs), Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies), Nick Frost (Brumbies), Will Skelton (La Rochelle), Rob Valetini (Brumbies), Fraser McReight (Reds), Harry Wilson (Reds, Capt). Replacements : Billy Pollard (Brumbies), Angus Bell (Waratahs), Tom Robertson (Force), Jeremy Williams (Force), Langi Gleeson (Waratahs), Carlo Tizzano (Force), Tate McDermott (Reds), Ben Donaldson (Force). British & Irish Lions : Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland), James Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); Finn Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); Maro Itoje (Saracens/England, Capt), Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England); Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England), Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland). Replacements : Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England), James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), Owen Farrell (Saracens/England), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse/Scotland). Referee : Andrea Piardi (FIR) Assistant referees : Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Ben O'Keeffe (NZR) TMO : Eric Gauzins (FFR) FPRO : Marius Jonker (SARU) Overall head-to-head : Played 24. Australia 6 wins. Lions 18 wins Last seven meetings : 2001: Australia 13 Lions 29; Australia 35 Lions 14; Australia 29 Lions 23. 2013: Australia 21 Lions 23; Australia 16 Lions 15; Australia 16 Lions 41. 2025: Australia 19 Lions 27. Forecast : Lions to win.
