Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry ready to lead home charge for Open glory
But returning as Masters champion this year, he believes he'll be better prepared for what will be an even more emotional homecoming this time around.
"I remember the ovation I got on the first tee on Thursday and not being prepared for it, not being ready for how I was going to feel or what I was going to feel," McIlroy admitted. "Then the golf on Thursday feels like a bit of a blur. I try to forget that part of it."
"I want to do my best this week to enjoy everything that comes my way, enjoy the reaction of the fans and enjoy being in front of them and playing in front of them.
"But at the same time, I want to win this golf tournament, and I feel like I'm very capable of doing that."
While Lowry shot a course record 63 in round three six years ago and turned a four-shot final day lead into a six-shot win, he knows that counts for nothing this year.
"I'm probably never going to do that again, so I'm not going to try and replicate that this week," Lowry said.
"I'm just going to go out and try and play the tournament as well as I can this week.
"I've prepared as well as I can for this tournament. I know I have. Then it's just up to me to stay out of my own way on Thursday morning and go and get after it and see what happens.'
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The Irish Sun
3 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
New footage shows Shane Lowry's ball DID move as R&A release statement on controversy at The Open
A NEW angle of Shane Lowry's ball moving has come to light. And the R&A released a statement on the controversial incident - as Jon Rahm called for the laws to be changed. Advertisement 3 Shane Lowry was docked two shots after his ball moved following a practice swing Credit: X 3 A new angle showed the move more clearly Credit: X Lowry, 38, The Irishman did not see the ball move so did not call it on himself but the video was assessed by the R&A. Lowry revealed he did not want to be labelled a cheat and therefore accepted the punishment, which saw him drop back from -2 to level par at the halfway point of The Open. The original TV camera angle barely showed the golf ball rotate ever so slightly. Advertisement READ MORE ON THE OPEN However, a new angle has now emerged. And the slight shift is more obvious. Quizzed on how he felt about the saga after his "Quite supportive, I would say, from the other players. Advertisement Most read in Golf CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "They all feel bad for me that two shots is a lot to give up." One of those players showing their support was Rahm, who called for the rules to be updated. Shane Lowry's X-rated rant is caught on hot mic after poor shot at The Open The Spaniard said: "You're in a no-win situation because if you say I didn't see it, therefore I don't think it should be a penalty, even though the rule says it should be visible to the naked eye, you always run the risk of being called something you don't want to be called. Advertisement "And if you take it on the safe side, you're taking a two-shot penalty. "It's a tough spot to be in. From what I understand from the whole thing, and I haven't seen the images, it needs to be visible without a camera. "It's always going to be based on the situation, and when you get in the rough, it's tricky. "Something needs to be changed for sure, I just don't know exactly how they could change it." Advertisement 3 The shift was barely visible in the original video Credit: USA Network The Open 2025 ONE of the most anticipated Opens in years is finally here. Can THE OPEN 2025 LIVE - Follow all the latest updates from Royal Portrush TIPS AND FREE BETS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW... The Open 2025 schedule and tee times The Open prize money 2025 TOP STORIES...
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Scottie Scheffler praised for ‘wonderful' classy gesture as he walked down the 18th with Shane Lowry at The Open
SCOTTIE Scheffler showed the crowds at Royal Portrush just why he is the No1 ranked golfer in the world. He shot a remarkable round of 64 to put himself in pole position to win his first Open title. Advertisement 4 Scottie Scheffler has been on outstanding form at Portrush Credit: Getty The 16-time PGA Tour winner is in ominous form, and led the field by a stroke at the halfway stage. He has three-time Major champion also showed his class as he walked up the 18th fairway on Friday evening. He was playing with former Open champion Shane Lowry, who is loved by the crowds at Royal Portrush for his dominant win here six years ago. Lowry, 38, had the majority of the fans behind him during the first two rounds of The Open. Advertisement read more on the open Unfortunately for Lowry, he ended up on even-par for the tournament, after receiving a two-stroke penalty when he was adjudged to have moved his ball at address accidentally on the 12th hole. As Scheffler and Lowry walked up the 18th fairway at the close of the second round, Sky Sports commentator Scheffler, along with their other playing partner steps to allow Lowry to accept the adulation of the crowd on his own. Beem said on Sky: 'I love the sign of respect from the other two players, allowing Shane to walk up to the green on his own. Wonderful touch. ' Advertisement Most read in Golf BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Lowry was slapped with a two-stroke penalty after his ball appeared to move ever so slightly on a practice swing. Lowry did not see it move Scheffler was asked about the incident - and he heaped praise on the Advertisement 4 Collin Morikawa hangs back on the 18th, along with Scottie Scheffler out of picture Credit: AFP Shane Lowry's X-rated rant is caught on hot mic after poor shot at The Open Scheffler said: "Ultimately in golf it's up to the player, and I felt like Shane was put in a pretty tough situation there when they were zooming in on his golf ball. "In the rough it's hard to tell. From what I looked at very briefly on the video, it looked like it was very difficult to see if the ball moved. "One of the great things about the game of golf is that you call your penalties on yourself. Advertisement "He handled it really well. It's obviously very frustrating.' Lowry was fuming after the penalty but took it on the chin. He said: 'I told them I definitely was looking down towards the ball as I was taking that practice swing, and I didn't see it move. 4 Shane Lowry appeared to make the ball move with his practice swing Credit: Sky Sports Advertisement 4 The ball nudged ever so slightly backwards Credit: Sky Sports 'But I had to take the penalty because I can't have my name talked about or tossed around like that. 'I'm still not sure, to be honest, whether it moved or not. But I had to take the penalty and just get on with it. It's obviously very disappointing. 'I felt like I played really, really well today, and something like this is hard to take. Advertisement "Look, I'll just have to dust myself off and get out there tomorrow and give it a go.' The Open 2025 ONE of the most anticipated Opens in years is finally here. Can THE OPEN 2025 LIVE - Follow all the latest updates from Royal Portrush TIPS AND FREE BETS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW... The Open 2025 schedule and tee times The Open prize money 2025 TOP STORIES...
Extra.ie
5 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Why did Shane Lowry receive a two-shot penalty at The Open?
Jonathan Browne 19/07/2025 It's been a rough start for many in Portrush in The Open. The weather has played a huge part in proceedings as expected, with heavy rain spells and win making the conditions in Northern Ireland even tougher than they already are. The roughs are notoriously troublesome in links courses and Portrush is no different, with many players struggling to play out of it and Padraig Harrington lost his ball in the long stuff, first time since 2012 that that's happened at a major. Then if you do find your ball in the rough, you have to hope that the lie is good enough to play out of without any issues. Well it was that rough that cost Shane Lowry yesterday. Shane Lowry of Ireland reacts to his tee shot on the 12th. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile The Offaly man battled tough and changing conditions throughout the second round to shoot what should've been a one-under-par 70 but before he could play his last three holes he was told that the officials were reviewing his second shot on the 12th hole. One camera angle seems to show that as Lowry took a practice swing the grass around the ball may have caused ball to move ever so slightly. BREAKINGShane Lowry was assessed a two-stroke penalty for this incident on the 12th hole. According to @ToddLewisGC The R&A spent nearly 20 minutes reviewing the video with Lowry, Scheffler and Morikawa after the round. — (@GOLF_com) July 18, 2025 Now it's hard to tell what exactly went on and you cant 100% be certain one way or another but the R&A have stated that if it's able to be caught by the naked eye then it's a penalty stroke. A second stoke penalty was added because the ball wasn't replaced following the first infringement. In a statement on the ruling the R&A said: 'In Shane Lowry's situation, the movement of the ball to another spot, including the movement of the logo, was discernible to the naked eye. The naked eye test is satisfied whether or not the player was looking at the ball when it moved. 'It was clear that the ball moved immediately after the player's club touched foliage close to the ball during a practice swing and that the player's actions caused the ball to move. 'In these circumstances there is a one stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced. However, as the ball was played from the spot where it was moved to, the player played from a wrong place and incurs a total penalty of two strokes.' Shane Lowry of Ireland looks on on the sixth green. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile It meant that instead of parring the par 5 twelfth, Lowry carded a double-bogey seven. It brought his round score down to one-over-par 72 and brought him back to even par for the tournament, ten shots off Scottie Scheffler in the lead. Speaking to media afterwards Lowry explained his side of the story, how he unknowingly moved the ball, but said he ultimately accepted the punishment. 'I mean, yeah, I was in there with the rules official and wasn't arguing my case, but I'm disappointed that they don't have more camera angles on it. The one zoomed in slow motion — they're trying to tell me if it doesn't move from the naked eye, if you don't see it moving, it didn't move. I told them I definitely was looking down towards the ball as I was taking that practice swing, and I didn't see it move. Shane Lowry of Ireland reacts to his shot from the seventh fairway. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile 'But I had to take the penalty because — I'm still not sure, to be honest, whether it was or not, but I had to take the penalty because I can't have my name talked about or tossed around like that, and I just get on with it.' It was a disappointing end to a second round for the 2019 Open Champion, but after making the cut for the weekend there's still a chance we could see some of that Portrush magic again.
