Shane Lowry 'pissed off', cuts media session short to avoid saying 'something stupid'
Shane Lowry 'pissed off', cuts media session short to avoid saying 'something stupid'
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Shane Lowry was within three shots of the lead Saturday with three holes to play.
But in the last hour, his chances of winning his second major and first Masters took a major hit.
Lowry bogeyed his final two holes to finish with a 72, keeping him at 5 under for the tournament and tied for sixth place. He is seven shots behind Rory McIlroy, who separated himself with an eagle on the par-5 15th. McIlroy shot 66.
"I felt like I let a really good day go there at the end," said Lowry, who birdied the second and third holes and played the final 16 in 2 over. "So I'm obviously disappointed. But just have to pick myself up and get some rest tonight and get after it tomorrow."
While Lowry and McIlroy are best friends and hang out at home (both live in Jupiter, Florida), Lowry was in no mood to talk about, well, much of anything after awhile.
Lowry was asked if he found himself looking back at McIlroy.
"I'm not going to stand here and talk about Rory for 10 minutes," he said. "I'm trying to win the tournament, as well. I know that's what y'all want me to talk about, but I've just had a s*** finish, I've got a chance to win the Masters tomorrow, and I'm going to go hit some balls."
After answering three more questions, including talking about the "unbelievable atmosphere" and the "roars" he heard for McIlroy, who was in the group behind him, Lowry cut the interview short.
"I think we need time," he said speaking to the media so soon after a tough finish. "I think I need a half an hour now to sit there and gather my thoughts. I can't be coming to talk to you guys straightaway. It shouldn't be happening. I don't agree with it."
Lowry referenced the controversy over Collin Morikawa refusing to talk after losing the lead late at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month, and 30-minute cool down period afforded tennis players after a match.
"I feel like we should have the same thing," he said. "That's how I feel. I'm probably going to say something stupid. I probably already have said something stupid because I'm pissed off right now. I'm just going to leave, okay?"
Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
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