Shane Lowry’s Struggles Continue at The Open
Shane Lowry’s challenging week at The Open has taken another turn as he struggled to recover from a stomach virus, resulting in a three-over 74 that saw him fall back among the other competitors at Royal Portrush. Just nine hours after receiving a harsh two-stroke penalty for not noticing his ball had moved during a practice swing on the 12th hole, Lowry found himself ten shots behind the leader. This latest setback added to the difficulties faced by the Offaly golfer, who was also dealing with the effects of a virus that impacted his performance.
Lowry admitted he had not eaten anything that day and expressed his frustration over the penalty, which turned a 70 into a 72. “I tried to get a protein drink down me after eight holes and felt like throwing up all over the place,” he said. Despite the challenges, he refused to make excuses for his performance.
The R&A explained that the movement of the ball was clearly visible, leading to the two-shot penalty. Lowry also mentioned that his fellow players were supportive, though he did not want to dwell too much on the incident. “The last thing I wanted was to be called a cheat,” he added.
Dealing with the Effects of the Virus
Lowry described the past night as difficult, waking up at 2:30am with stomach cramps. He revealed that the virus had affected his family members, including Wendy, who had it the day before, and himself and Iris, who were now suffering from it. Despite the circumstances, he managed to find some humor in the situation, joking about planning a holiday next week.
His efforts to perform well at the site of his 2019 victory were evident, but the disappointment was clear. “To be honest, I’m gutted,” he said. “I wanted to do well so badly this week and I put so much into it. It’s hard to take.”
Lowry acknowledged that golf does not always go his way and expressed his desire to enjoy the weekend more than he did. “Saturday at The Open in your home country, you should enjoy it a lot more than I did,” he reflected.
Looking Ahead
Despite the setbacks, Lowry remains focused on future goals. He mentioned that his mindset for the next few months is centered around the Ryder Cup. “That’s where all my work is going to go towards over the next month,” he said.
The reaction from fellow players was supportive, although Lowry was not keen to discuss the incident further. “They were quite supportive, I would say. I think they all just feel bad for me,” he noted.
Performance on the Course
Lowry needed a strong start to recover from the shots lost on Friday. However, he bogeyed the par-five second hole after finding a bush with his second shot and taking a penalty drop. Missed birdie opportunities at the fourth and seventh holes were not as painful as the cramps he experienced.
After making a 25-footer for par at the ninth and a 15-footer for birdie at the 10th, he managed to go one-under for the tournament. However, a triple bogey seven at the 14th and another dropped shot at the 17th marked the end of his strong performance.
“I honestly felt like I dealt with it well, but I think a lack of energy towards the end caught up with me,” he admitted. “It’s just really bad timing, obviously.” Lowry had hoped to shoot one under, but the challenges on the course made it difficult.
