Ireland’s 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry faced criticism after he accepted a two-stroke penalty on Friday during his second round at Royal Portrush.
Lowry, 38, was penalized for moving his ball while taking a practice swing on the par-five 12th hole. The R&A deemed the incident “clear” and awarded him a one-shot penalty, which ultimately cost Lowry two strokes.
The world number 18 said he feared being ‘slaughtered’ online if he didn’t accept the penalty, adding that the lack of camera angles on the incident frustrated him. However, playing partner Scottie Scheffler showed support for his counterpart, saying it was a difficult situation.
Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley echoed Lowry’s concerns about harsh penalties in golf, calling for more leeway during rule applications.
Despite accepting the penalty, Lowry finished one shot above the cut line, narrowly qualifying for the weekend. He now faces a tough task to catch up with leader Scottie Scheffler, who is eight shots ahead of him.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/19/sport/shane-lowry-two-shot-open-penalty-spt