‘People believe what they want to believe' – Golf star Shane Lowry's prickly response to question about his drinking
LOW BLOW 'People believe what they want to believe' – Golf star Shane Lowry's prickly response to question about his drinking
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
FORMER Open champion Shane Lowry gave a prickly response to a question about his drinking.
Lowry, 38, won the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush in 2019 and celebrated in style with selfies of him hitting the nightspots of Dublin.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
5
Former Open champion Shane Lowry at The Open in Portrush
Credit: AFP
5
Shane Lowry takes to the links during a practice round
Credit: Reuters
The Irishman is back in Portrush for this week's Open Championship, and was immediately reminded of his boozy celebrations six years ago.
'That's an interesting first question, isn't it? We're here to talk about golf and all anybody wants to talk about is drinking,' the Ryder Cup star said.
Rewind to 2019 and Lowry gave the world an exhibition on how to celebrate a sporting triumph with a week-long party.
He also shared plenty of images on Instagram of his party to toast his victory at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in 2022 when he was joined by pop star and avid golf fan Niall Horan.
It's an image that Lowry is keen to downplay these days… although needless to say he would probably do it all again should he triumph this weekend back at his favourite course.
Lowry said: Golf's a funny game where you lose more than you win, so when you win you need to enjoy those victories.
"I'll let people believe what they want to believe (about my drinking). The people close to me know what I'm like.
'I do enjoy it from time to time but I know when I need to put my head down.
"You can't be at the top of any sport unless you apply yourself."
5
Shane Lowry celebrated his BMW PGA Championship in 2022
5
Lowry was left cursing 'the morning after the night before' after his post-BMW party
BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK
Lowry admitted that he failed to spot the giant mural celebrating his Open win - even though it is about 25 feet high!
The painting of Lowry raising the Claret Jug at Portrush covers the entire side of a house, and is just around the corner from the course.
But when he made his first trip back to the scene of his greatest triumph, just before the Irish Open last September, Lowry and his team forgot to make the small detour.
He said: 'I'll be completely honest, we were in a rush leaving Portrush, and we totally forgot about going in to see it!
'I swear to God, we were ten miles down the road, and we suddenly realised we didn't get a picture of me standing in front of it, which we'd fully intended to do.
'By then it was too late to turn back, because we were on our way to the Irish Open at County Down. But I've seen it since, and I think it's pretty cool what they did there.
'People keep sending me pictures standing beside it - some of them I can't say what they're doing in it!
5
The mural of Shane Lowry being created on a house in Portrush
Credit: Reuters
"I've done something special in my life, and they've acknowledged that, and I think that's pretty cool too.'
Lowry is currently 18th in the world rankings and so far this season has finished tied for 42nd at The Masters, and missed the cut at the US Open and the PGA Championship.
He admits he has struggled to work out why it all clicked at The Open in 2019 and why he has been unable to repeat the feat since.
Lowry said: "I've spent six years trying to work that out. My results were really good going into it.
'I was playing solid golf, then I came to a place I knew and loved. It all clicked. I was playing some of the best golf of my life.
'A few people close to me have said they knew I was ready - I wish they'd told me because I didn't think it.
'I was quite up-tight about it but that's just because you want to play so well. You never really know why. It just happened and I count myself quite lucky.'
Lowry said the key could be playing poorly in the practice rounds, so his expectations are lowered and his focussed sharpened.
He said: 'Here in 2019, I had a meltdown because I felt like I wasn't going to play well but that focuses me.
'If I get my complacency away and my expectations down, I'm at my best. I played well the last two days so that's not good.
"I just need to play s**t for a few days and everything will be alright.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
24 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Oleksandr Usyk has press conference in stitches as he NAMES the left hook that floored Daniel Dubois at Wembley
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) OLEKSANDR USYK named the punch that knocked Daniel Dubois out during a hilarious post-fight press conference. Usyk, 38, floored Dubois, 27, with a devastating left hook in the fifth round to extend his stunning undefeated streak to 24 fights on Saturday at Wembley. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Oleksandr Usyk named the punch that knocked Daniel Dubois out as Ivan 5 Usyk floored Dubois with a devastating left hook 5 Usyk became undisputed heavyweight champion for the second time 5 Dubois was knocked out in the fifth round The Cat was crowned undisputed heavyweight champion for the second time and was in a very jubilant mood after getting his hand raised in London. And it showed during his presser as the Ukrainian superstar left everyone laughing their socks off as he revealed he has a name for his deadly left hook. The heavyweight king actually calls that punch IVAN because it reminds him of tough, big men living in villages at his home country. Usyk said: "Left hook is like this [imitates a punch]. Read More on Boxing Usyk vs Dubois 2 Reaction as Dubois savagely KNOCKED OUT in heavyweight Wembley thriller "And that [is] Ivan. It's a Ukrainian name. Ivan is like a big guy who lives in a village who works. "'What is your name?' [In a heavy voice] 'My name is Ivan'. "It's hard, hard punch. Yeah, Ivan." Usyk is now looking to give Ivan a break after his dominant victory over Dubois. Usyk vs Dubois round by round as brutal knockout cements Ukrainian's place in history OLEKSANDR USYK cemented his name in the list of all-time boxing greats as he became a three-time undisputed champion with a fifth round knockout win over Daniel Dubois. Usyk dropped Dubois multiple times as he put any doubts about his first win over the Brit to bed by cementing the repeat and avoiding the revenge. Here, SunSport's Jack Figg gives his round-by-round verdict... ROUND ONE Usyk looks light on his toes, swaying side to side, Dubois plants his feet and walks forward. Stiff jab from Usyk appears to almost wake Dubois up and the Brit responds with a one-two. Usyk searches to the body with a left, blocks a right hand from Dubois and ends the round with a menacing combo. Usyk 10 Dubois 9 ROUND TWO Dubois lunges in with a right hand, Usyk expertly takes half a step back and responds with a counter left. Another right misses from Dubois and he takes a left cross which has him on shaky legs. Already Usyk is finding his rhythm, making Dubois miss and certainty making him pay. Usyk 10 Dubois 9 (Usyk 20 Dubois 18) ROUND THREE Usyk staggers back after a right hand from Dubois - maybe more off balance than hurt. Dubois charges forward with a left hook, right hand but Usyk covers up well. Huge left hook lands on the button from Usyk, sweat sprays off Dubois face. Usyk 10 Dubois 9 (Usyk 30 Dubois 27) ROUND FOUR Right uppercut lands on Usyk's belt-line in a genuine case of dejavu from low-blow gate in their first fight. Dubois traps Usyk in the corner, lands a right but the Ukrainian legend slips off before any troubling damage can be done. Left hand lands for Usyk but Dubois grabs on and closes the distance, smart defence to cap off his best round so far. Usyk 9 Dubois 10 (Usyk 39 Dubois 37) ROUND FIVE Right hook followed by a left hand lands for Usyk has Dubois teetering backwards. Dubois comes forward, charging at Usyk and the two trade off in the corner but DOWN GOES DUBOIS after a counter right hook. He makes it to his feet but is dropped with another left hook and the fight is over! Dubois fails to beat the count and Usyk is once again undisputed heavyweight world champion. Usyk wins by KO CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS The undefeated star revealed he wants to spend some time with his family before deciding on his next match. Usyk said: "I don't want anything next, this is enough. I want to rest now. I want to get home to my family and wife and my children. SunSport reporter Wally Downes Jr gives his verdict on Oleksandr Usyk's stunning KO rematch win vs Daniel Dubois "I want to rest now but maybe - in two or three months - actually no, just rest." However, Ivan might make a dynamic comeback sooner rather than later with Usyk hinting at a trilogy fight with Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua as well as a fight against Joseph Parker. He added: "Maybe Tyson Fury is next, or Anthony Joshua or Joseph Parker. I cannot say because I want to go home."
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
The story of 'the most famous bench in golf'
For almost 15 years it has been dubbed the most famous bench in proudly on the sixth tee at Royal Portrush, with views of the beach below and coast for miles either side, it has gone viral at this year's of the sport's biggest names - including Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm - have all been pictured resting up at the back end of the inscription reads: "Jim McDowell - from just a few of his many golfing friends to mark the occasion of his 70th birthday". But what is the story behind it? It involves camaraderie and friendship, something at the heart of golf. "Dad's not with us any more but he used to play every Wednesday at Royal Portrush with a group of hackers," said Jim's daughter, Zoe. "They had the best time and they would have a wee regroup at the halfway house and play pretty well on the back nine. "They eventually all became friends and it was a really eclectic mix of people that Dad brought together, so they decided on his 70th they would chip in and get him a bench." Zoe said the secretary of Royal Portrush at the time picked the location on the iconic sixth tee and it was unveiled as a surprise to Jim for his big day."She knew the lie of the land and we think she picked the best spot," Zoe added."It was a surprise for him and it's been a joy to enjoy it ever since. "Dad was really excited because he was one of the few people to get a bench while they were still alive. He would often sit on it with his friends and have the craic. "There have been a lot of stories and family memories from the bench, and now it's been amazing to see so many people from this Open enjoying it."Claire, Jim's other daughter, said her father "would have absolutely loved" seeing some of the sport's biggest names enjoy his bench at the sisters added that they come and visit the bench every year to reflect on memories of their dad. In Claire's words, "most people go to a grave. We go to a bench"."We were so excited and we know Dad would have got such a kick from it," she said while enjoying the Open with Zoe on Saturday."He would have loved it if he was still here. "It's been a bit mad, but we always thought it was the best bench in golf. There was never any dispute around that for us, it's pretty cool." The bench is a legacy of friendship - in a way that only a sport like golf can provide - and now others can enjoy a moment of tranquillity, reflection or craic - including some of the sport's biggest names.
Times
an hour ago
- Times
The Open leaderboard 2025 live: scores, updates from round 4 at Portrush
The American, a signed-up member of the 'stop slow play' club and keen to time his fellow players with a stopwatch, is out on course following three rounds of 78, 65 and 68 respectively. An opening birdie is not out of the question here after he makes up for an errant tee shot into the rough by plopping his second on the green. The 2019 champion's (-1) run of birdies comes to an end on 10 with a par, though he wasn't far off with his first putt. He's four under for this round. Elsewhere, the wonderfully named Maverick McNealy is three under thru 3 and four under for the week — he's top of the players currently out there, tied for 22nd. Rickie Fowler picks up a birdie at the 2nd to move to three under. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. How about this for Shane Lowry, who reaches the turn in 32. He finds the green with his second shot on the 9th, around 20 feet away, and it's yet another birdie. That's three in a row and he's on one under. Right then, any early movers and shakers? Despite his illness, Shane Lowry has rediscovered some of that 2019-winning form to record his fourth birdie of the front nine. Phil Mickelson is two under for his round thru 10 while fellow Open winners Henrik Stenson, Jordan Spieth, and Franceso Molinari — who took the Claret Jug between 2016 and 2018 respectively — are all out on course. It's an unforgiving game, golf. You only have to go back three years to find someone overturning a four-shot Open deficit in the final round (Rick Broadbent writes at Portrush). Cam Smith won that year after reining in Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland. He was actually six strokes better than McIlroy and ten better than Hovland. Scottie Scheffler is a different proposition, though. He has had one bogey in his last 43 holes, has closed out his last nine 54-hole leads, has been showing exquisite distance control this week and his nearest challenger, Haotong Li, has just made an Open cut for the first time since 2018. 'Kind of like, play for second,' Li said of his plans. This is golf, though. If someone is four under thru six then it could at least get interesting. Smith, by the way, has missed the cut at all four majors in 2025. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. The fact that Sergio Garcia is playing at this early hour already indicates that it's not been his tournament, and now he's just broken his driver in anger after hooking left on the 2nd tee. Because he broke the club on purpose, he now can't replace it this round. It's very early doors on the final day at Portrush but that doesn't mean there aren't big names to watch out for — most pertinently the 2019 champion Shane Lowry, who has begun his round already. It's been a disappointing week, capped by a two-shot penalty on Friday for moving a ball with his practice swing. He has also struggled with illness, saying 'every bathroom I went in and tried to throw up, [but] I couldn't'. 'The annoying thing for me today is I didn't get to enjoy today as much as I would have liked,' Lowry added yesterday. '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's one under thru 6 so far today and two over for the week. • Michael Foley: Why Shane Lowry is running on empty at Portrush Hello and welcome to The Sunday Times' live coverage of the final round of the 153rd Open Championship from Royal Portrush. Scottie Scheffler holds a four-shot lead going into the fourth day, after another excellent performance yesterday when he carded a four-under 67. Rory McIlroy, Haotong Li, Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick are all in pursuit, and conditions look set to be fair. Be sure to follow along for updates, analysis and news from the Co Antrim coast as the final major of the year reaches its climax.
