'F*** This Place,' Shane Lowry Penalized for Rare U.S. Open Error
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Day 2 at Oakmont Country Club was chaos. The course, already infamous for its punishing layout, pushed even the best in the world to the edge.
Scottie Scheffler, the World No. 1, looked visibly rattled. Bryson DeChambeau, the defending champion, failed to find a rhythm. And just when it seemed like things couldn't get worse, the skies opened up.
Heavy rain forced the suspension of round 2, pushing unfinished play into Saturday and leaving the course even more treacherous.
But amid the weather delays and leaderboard shuffles, Shane Lowry delivered the most bizarre moment of the day. It was a rare and costly mental lapse that left even Rory McIlroy laughing in disbelief.
Shane Lowry's 1-stroke penalty
On Friday, Lowry was already battling through a rough round when the PGA Tour pro chipped his third shot onto the green. Then, in a moment that stunned even his caddie and friend Rory McIlroy, he picked up his ball without marking it.
OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 13: Shane Lowry of Ireland looks on from the 18th green during the second round of the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 13, 2025 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania....
OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 13: Shane Lowry of Ireland looks on from the 18th green during the second round of the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 13, 2025 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. (Photo by) More
Getty Images
A clear violation of Rule 14.1a, which states that a player must mark the ball's position before lifting it, or face a one-stroke penalty.
"I just picked the ball up," Lowry admitted later. "Had the ball in my hand and then turned around to Darren. He basically said to me, 'What you doing?'"
His caddie, Darren Reynolds, looked at him in disbelief. "I put it back down and marked it, and played on," Lowry added. "It was going to be a penalty. I didn't know if it was going to be 1 or 2."
Oakmont is taking its toll.
Shane Lowry forgot to mark his ball on the 14th green before picking it up. pic.twitter.com/KJDasXGheo — Fried Egg Golf (@fried_egg_golf) June 13, 2025
The mistake was so absurd that McIlroy, who had been struggling himself, throwing clubs and breaking tee boxes earlier in the course, couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Even Justin Rose, their playing partner, cracked up. Lowry, to his credit, laughed too.
"Probably one of the stupidest things I've ever done," Lowry expressed, wiping tears from his eyes while laughing, post-round.
Shockingly, this wasn't the only Oakmont highlight around Shane Lowry. Earlier on Friday, after bogeying his first three holes, he stood at +13 heading into the par-5 4th.
When a lip-out denied him a par save, he muttered what everyone was thinking: "F*** this place, F*** this place," a moment shared by @MattBellner on X.
Golf is hard.
Shane Lowry - 'F*ck this place, F*ck this place' - Unique opinion on Oakmont & the 2025 US Open.
#USOpen2025 pic.twitter.com/MSkXJ7vLRc — Matt "Mattie 5" Bellner (@MattBellner) June 13, 2025
All the mess up ultimately led to the PGA Tour pro missing the cut on Thursday. Lowry carded a total of 78, bringing his total to 17-over 157 after round 2. Unfortunately, it was nowhere close to get above cut line, which settled at +7.
Big names like Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Ludvig Aberg, Wyndham Clark too missed the cut.
More Golf: PGA Tour Poaches Top NFL Executive as Tour's New CEO
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