Latest news with #ShaneLowry
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Letters to the Editor: Shane Lowry displayed true dignity and honesty at The Open
In a world too often clouded by conflict, ugliness, division, and noise, there are rare moments that break through like sunlight, reminding us of who we are and who we still can be. One of those moments came not from a political podium or a viral speech, but from a simple, genuine gesture on the windswept fairways of Portrush at The Open Championship and from the heart of a man many of us know not just as a golfer, but as one of our own, Shane Lowry. With pressure mounting and dreams on the line, Shane made a decision that won't earn him a trophy but will stay with many of us far longer. He called a two-stroke penalty on himself. The footage was inconclusive. He could have argued. He could have walked away. But Shane chose honour. He chose truth and the strength of choosing what is right, even when no one would blame him for doing otherwise. In doing so, he reminded the world of something far greater than sport, he reminded us of dignity. He reminded us that the soul of sport and of life lies not in winning, but in how we carry ourselves through it all. To those of us from Clara and Co Offaly, where Shane was born and raised, this act did not come as a surprise. Because Shane is Clara and Offaly through and through. He's the child of good people, the grandson of kind hearts, raised in a town where your name matters, where people care, and where values like humility, respect, compassion, and quiet strength are woven into the fabric of every family and every street. Clara is a small but deeply proud town, a place where people know your story, where values like decency, kindness, humility, and integrity are lived daily, not just spoken about. Shane carries that spirit in every swing, in every quiet moment when no one is watching, though this weekend, the world was. For those of us from Clara and Offaly, it didn't surprise us in the least. Shane didn't just show us the kind of golfer he is. He showed us the kind of man he is. And perhaps even more importantly, the kind of world we still hope for, one where character matters, where truth matters, where grace under pressure is still possible, and where doing the right thing, even when it hurts, still counts for something. And like he birdied the 15th hole moments after learning of the penalty, he carried on with grace, resilience, and courage, the weight of his values steadier than any club in his bag. Clara is a place of warmth, of hard work, of community. And Shane carries it all with him in every round, every decision, every step he takes on the world stage. He brings us with him. And in that moment of profound honesty, we saw not just a sportsman, but a reflection of everything good we still believe in. We in Clara and Offaly are proud beyond words, not only of Shane's sporting achievements, but of the countless ways he gives back: supporting families, supporting young people all over the county, lifting people in need, and remembering always where he comes from. He makes us proud not just when he's holding a trophy, but when he shows the world that character still matters. That the smallest, unseen choices often define us the most. In a time when hope can feel fragile, Shane Lowry reminded us of something enduring, that integrity still shines, that honesty and quiet courage still counts. That love for your roots, for your people, and for doing the right thing, no matter the cost is what truly defines greatness and that when everything is on the line, the most courageous swing is the one guided by truth. From all of us in Clara and Offaly, Shane, we're not just behind you cheering you on, we're beside you, always. With heartfelt love, endless pride, deep gratitude, and a few candles lit for you and your family always — keep her lit. Ronan Scully, Knocknacarra, Galway Connolly's talent is needed in the Dáil Now that Catherine Connolly TD has launched her bid for the presidency, political commentators are beside themselves with excitement. But given that it has been often said that 'a government is as good as its opposition', we must ask ourselves if it is politically wise to consign this stand-out parliamentarian to Áras an Uachtaráin. The presidency is largely a ceremonial role with minimal impact upon public policy, where the most important function is to sign whatever act of parliament is presented to them, and where they cannot address the nation or leave the country without government approval. In the Dáil, as an Independent TD free from constraints of party strategies and agendas, Ms Connolly has held the Government to account on many issues, from the provision of local health centres to the outrages currently perpetrated upon Palestinians. Almost alone she called out the national antipathy generated by our government towards those who, having assessed the available evidence together with their GP, concluded that taking the covid jab was not for them. Perhaps most memorably before the two failed referendums last year, she was one of very few public figures to call out the absence of legislative scrutiny, disingenuous claims, and the ambiguous language associated with them. We badly need Catherine Connolly's talent and skill set in the Dáil. She is too important to be confined in the Áras enclosure. Gearoid Duffy, Lee Road, Cork What's your view on this issue? You can tell us here CAP fund changes There is no doubt but that the EU's proposal to amalgamate the CAP budget with other funding, with the hint of 'benefits for all', belies a devilish plan to downgrade funding for CAP and allow Ursula von der Leyen to divert funds for other purposes, chiefly unfettered arms and military spending, without the democratic input of the good people of the EU. That's not to say increased military resources are not necessary. It's the underhand misrepresentation of the true intention and unfettered accountability that is the devil in the detail. Each of the proposed reforms of the administration of the CAP can be successfully done with the CAP budget rightly separated as it is now. Kevin T Finn, Mitchelstown, Co Cork Abortion figures The latest figures released by the Department of Health regarding the number of abortions carried out in Ireland in 2024 indicate there were 957 abortions in Co Cork alone, and a total of 10,852 abortions nationally — an average of approximately 30 each day. When the law was changed, the prevailing belief and promise in public discourse was that abortion would be a rare occurrence. However, the current trend shows a steady rise in numbers, signalling a need for deeper reflection and action. It is clear that many individuals and families are facing complex, often heart-wrenching situations. Rather than meeting these challenges solely with the availability of abortion, I believe our society must do more to provide robust social, emotional, and financial supports that empower people to choose life for their unborn babies. This means greater access to counselling, practical assistance for parents, affordable childcare, secure housing, and meaningful community networks. When women and families are equipped with real choices and comprehensive supports, they are better positioned to continue pregnancies and raise children in stability and dignity. Let us strive to be a society that not only responds to crisis pregnancies with compassion, but also with creative solutions and solidarity — ensuring that no one feels abortion is their only option. Liz O'Sullivan, Clonakilty, Co Cork What's your view on this issue? You can tell us here Triple lock removal When discussing the possible re-introduction of town councils, it is noteworthy that Taoiseach Micheál Martin tells us 'democracy matters'. Would that the same logic apply when he is addressing the bill, currently before the Dáil, on the removal of the triple lock. Successive opinion polls have demonstrated the wish of the Irish people to be peacemakers, and not to be a member of a military alliance. If Mr Martin succeeds in his mission to remove the triple lock, it would remove the need for UN authorisation of overseas missions, and unlock the possibility of Irish troops going abroad on military missions at the behest of the EU. To remove the triple lock would be to further the militarisation of the EU and fly in the face of political reassurances given to voters in the Nice and Lisbon referendums, who changed their vote after the initial 'no' vote. The breach of trust is shocking and very undemocratic. Elizabeth Cullen, Kilcullen, Co Kilkenny
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shane Lowry Curses Royal Portrush after Mishap During Second Round at Open Championship
Shane Lowry Curses Royal Portrush after Mishap During Second Round at Open Championship originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Shane Lowry opened his campaign at the 153rd Open Championship with a steady one‑under‑par 70 in the first round, navigating Royal Portrush's tricky links with minimal drama. In round two, he is one-under par through 14 to sit at two‑under overall. It was on the par‑4 11th hole during Friday's second round that Lowry's frustration boiled over. After watching his drive veer offline, he could be heard shouting, 'No! Don't go left!' The Irishman then let loose, saying, '(Expletive) off. (Expletive) this place,'—a very usual occurrence when Lowry messes up. That outburst may surprise some, given Lowry's deep connection to Portrush. His stunning victory there in 2019 marked the first Open held in Northern Ireland since the 1950s, and the town still honors him with a large mural of his likeness. There is no ill will toward the venue from Lowry—just golf‑course emotions and the raw frustration that comes when a cherished haven turns against you. The afternoon's squalls and heavy rain only compounded the challenge. Sudden downpours and swirling winds left many contenders scrambling, turning what had been a birdie fest into a test of survival. Even Scottie Scheffler, who was on a birdie run, saw his flawless score blemished by a bogey. Scheffler is showcasing one of his best performances in recent weeks. Every step he took on the course, every shot he hit earned him some new fans in this foreign place. He truly showed his calibre as the World No. 1 on Friday. But the unfortunate part is that Lowry's horror of 11 did not just end there. The officials handed him a two-shot penalty after assessing that his practice swing moved the ball from its designated place. He is now even par heading into the story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘It's one of the best golf courses in the world' – Shane Lowry wants Portmarnock Links Open Championship at Dublin venue
SHANE LOWRY has become the latest big name PGA Tour star to call for an Open Championship at Portmarnock Golf Club. Advertisement 2 Ireland's Shane Lowry wants an Open Championship at Portmarnock in Dublin 2 The stunning Dublin venue hosted the 2019 R&A amateur championship The prestigious major championship has never been held outside the UK but the amateur edition was held at the Dublin links course in 2019. The Irish The Open has only been staged outside England and Scotland on three occasions at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. Advertisement READ MORE ON GOLF But the prospect of an Open in the Republic of Ireland has many licking their chops. Now, 2019 Open champion Lowry has joined American stars Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas in calling for an Open at the stunning venue. The Ryder Cup star said: "As regards Portmarnock - I've heard they're talking about it - I've heard it might go there. It would be amazing. "It's 30 minutes from my house, I would be able to stay at home and play in an Open - and I think it's one of the best golf courses in the world. Advertisement Most read in Golf "I think it's good enough to host and Open, and hopefully it will soon." Just last year, three-time major winner Scottie Scheffler wins The Open and kisses wife Meredith in emotional celebrations Speaking on the He reckons it would be incredible with an Irish crowd. Advertisement Speaking on the Smylie Show, he said: "Portmarnock is like a proper standard links, you don't have anything odd or wild that sticks out in a way. "It was the closest to Dublin, so I think that would be incredible if the infrastructure was there, which - I guess they're figuring it out it can be - I mean what a scene that could be. "You know, I think about that Adare Manor Pro-Am, and who showed up - the crowds that showed up there - you know, it was "The Portrush Open [2019 Open Championship] was amazing but if you throw one there [Portmarnock] when you're within a half-hour of Dublin - what a scene that would be. Advertisement "Not to mention, you could have carnage off that first tee."
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Shane Lowry's two-stroke penalty at The Open sparks debate: Fair call or too harsh?
There seems to have been a lot of noise around the two-stroke penalty imposed on Shane Lowry in the second round of The Open. Many players, commentators and fans have come to Lowry's defence to say it was, at best, harsh. Unknown to Lowry, his caddie and playing partners, and, only after officials checked with TV evidence, The R&A decided that a penalty was incurred when Lowry played a practice swing in the rough and the ball moved. In a statement, the R&A clarified how Lowry had breached Rule 9.4 — Ball Played as It Lies; Ball at Rest Lifted or Moved. It read, 'During Round Two, Shane Lowry's ball was seen to have moved while he was taking a practice swing for his second shot from the rough at the 12th hole.' Three Key Rule Criteria 'The Rules require three things to be assessed in such situations: 1. Did the ball leave its original position and come to rest on another spot? 2. Was the ball's movement to another spot discernible to the naked eye? And 3. If the ball did come to rest on another spot and the movement was discernible to the naked eye, is it known or virtually certain that the player's actions caused the ball to move?' 'Assessing whether the movement of the ball was visible to the naked eye in such a situation assumes the player being in a normal address position for the stroke,' the statement added. '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. Assessing The Ball Movement '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 the wrong place and incurred a total penalty of two strokes,' the statement concluded. TV evidence and golf, over the years, has often created controversy when involved, and Rules have been adapted to ensure, wherever possible, disqualifications do not arise after scorecards are handed in. Every case needs to be looked at on its own merits. The incident is unfortunate – especially as no one present in the group saw the ball move. Why not make it a one-stroke penalty as the player was in no position to replace the ball – he had moved on? Evaluating The Penalty Conditions Commentator Paul McGinley argued it seemed unfair and the Rule should be looked at for revision – 'We should be looking at the spirit of the Rule.' What else could Lowry have done? Lowry was disappointed there were not more TV angles to prove the case – as it states – movement to the 'naked eye.' No naked eyes were watching – it was a TV camera. A thought is - should the Rulings be restricted to the playing group and the walking Rules Official with that group, with all the information available at the time? Where and when do we stop looking at all 156 players all over the golf course, for the first two rounds and 70, this week, for the last two rounds?
The Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
The Open leaves a reminder of Scottie Scheffler's biggest challenge yet
Jon Rahm furiously gesticulated for the ball to stop during the third round at the par-five second at Royal Portrush on Saturday. Shane Lowry 's ball, that is, with his Ryder Cup teammate only just beginning what would unfold into a grueling three-over-par round of 74 to scupper any lingering hopes of contending at The Open 2025. The Irishman was rebounding from Friday's harsh ruling to belatedly dock him two strokes after his ball barely moved following a practice swing. The 2019 Open champion later detailed how a bout of sickness left him deflated and lacking energy throughout Saturday. It is to Lowry's credit that he handled that early mental challenge so well, even if there were outbursts throughout an arduous week on the Dunluce Links. After gathering his second into two, he flicked the ball up and out of a nasty patch of rough with his wedge, juggling the ball and accepting a one-shot penalty to drop the ball in an adjacent fairway. There were even efforts to temper hostility between stewards and fans eager to get a glimpse of their hero. The ensuing bogey perhaps left Lowry at peace with his situation, yet the camaraderie, as seen moments later by the smiles on the walk down the third fairway, left a palpable reminder of the deep connections built by Team Europe and how Luke Donald can remain bullish about their chances of retaining the Ryder Cup this September in what would be just the second away victory in the competition since 2004. That's despite the tide turning towards the Stars and Stripes following the imposing four-stroke win from Scottie Scheffler on Sunday, not to mention Harris English likely securing a place on Keegan Bradley's team with his runner-up finish. And Bryson De Chambeau's sizzling weekend to surge up to a tie for 10th despite posting a +7 opening round ensures there will be a rowdy edge to the crowds at Bethpage Black. The teams appear a lot more balanced now after the start of 2025 saw Rory McIlroy, Belgian hopeful Thomas Detry and Ludvig Aberg win three straight PGA Tour events. McIlroy would go on to win the Players Championship and the Masters, while Viktor Hovland and Sepp Straka, again, added more European delight in the States. It is why attention now turns to Bethpage Black, no matter the PGA Tour playoffs and the FedEx Cup. An innocuous Scheffler batted away 'silly' comparisons with Tiger Woods. Though a fourth major win at 29 years old brought his overall tally of career wins to 22, one more than Woods. But Scheffler remains grounded and unperturbed by others determined to extract a Woods-esque appetite for relentless success. 'I've always done my best when I'm able to live in the present,' Scheffler remarked when asked if the sheer volume of success motivates him. 'For instance, like looking back on this week, if I just showed up in Memphis thinking that I'm the best and I don't need to practise to be good at golf and just walk in resting on my accomplishments, I'm probably not going to have a good week. 'If I come in feeling down on myself or thinking about my poor starts this year, then I'm probably not going to be in a good spot as well. 'For me, I always rely on the effort that I put in. When I step on the first tee, I remind myself that I'm prepared and I just try to go out there and compete. 'That's all I'm focused on. I don't focus on winning the tournament. I don't focus on things that I can accomplish in the game of golf. I just try to get the most out of myself each day and compete as hard as I can when I'm inside the ropes.' It should be noted that away from this supremely impressive three-year streak, there is a blemish on Scheffler's resume. And the correction would distinguish him from Woods, in one aspect. Woods never truly thrived for Team USA, especially in the Ryder Cup with his mediocre record of 13 wins, 21 losses, and three halved matches, often displaying a vulnerability rarely seen as an individual. Scheffler, too, has shown signs of fragility. Before his current breakout, Scheffler went winless at the 2022 Presidents Cup, while there were tears at Marco Simone following a humiliating 9&7 defeat alongside Brooks Koepka at the hands of Aberg and Hovland. Scheffler failed to win in Rome and will be desperate to improve his overall Ryder Cup record (2–2–3). It is why Lowry and Rahm's connection, in the face of adversity, shows the extent of the challenge facing Team USA to wrestle back the cup. And Scheffler must lead that charge, even if his personality does not lend itself to the undoubtedly feverish expectation this event brings. The majors, at four and counting, will ultimately settle Scheffler's legacy among the immortals, with the US Open next year offering a chance to complete the grand slam. But transmitting that greatness and lifting up others during an excellent generation of European golf will bring another layer to the legend of Scottie.
