For the most part, Shane Lowry has had a strong performance to open the 2025 British Open.
The Irishman, who previously won the 2019 British Open, originally posted 70s on the par-71 course on both Thursday and Friday. Heading into the weekend, Lowry appeared to be sitting at -2.
However, while Lowry’s five birdies put him among the leaders, he also found himself as the subject of some controversy in Friday’s second round after a practice swing appeared to move his ball. It resulted in Lowry moving further down the leaderboard.
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Here’s what to know about Lowry’s controversial practice swing at the British Open and the penalty he received.
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Shane Lowry penalty stroke
On Hole 11 during Friday’s second round, Lowry was getting set to take his second shot on the par-4. As he did so, he went to take a practice shot right next to his ball in the rough, taking a swing through the long blades of grass.
However, when he took the practice swing, cameras caught the ball moving very slightly to the left. Lowry appeared to be unaware that his ball moved:
Sure looks like Shane Lowry’s ball moved on the practice swing here pic.twitter.com/qXkc8e1sTJ
— Fried Egg Golf (@fried_egg_golf) July 18, 2025
Lowry was officially assessed a two-stroke penalty on Hole 11 for his ball moving. He posted a bogey on the par-4 hole originally, his third of the tournament, but the penalty stroke made that a triple-bogey. It also moved him to even for the Open, rather than 2-under.
Per the Golf Channel, the R&A officials spent nearly 20 minutes reviewing the video of Lowry’s practice shot with Lowry, Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa, the two golfers he was paired with Friday.
Did Shane Lowry’s ball move?
It was determined by R&A rules officials that Lowry caused the ball to move, whether he knew it or not. Part of the ruling was that the ball very clearly moved after his club came through the grass:
Shane Lowry has just been informed he’s been given a two shot penalty for this incident: pic.twitter.com/6RPqEARxXP
— Ben Parsons (@_benparsons) July 18, 2025
While the two incidents weren’t related, Lowry was heard screaming some expletives after a drive earlier in the day:
You give a guy a mural and he still doesn’t like the place 😂 pic.twitter.com/miJndMKH3J
— Andy Johnson (@AndyTFE) July 18, 2025
Shane Lowry British Open scorecard
Here’s a look at Lowry’s full scorecard so far in the British Open. After the penalty, he’s now even for the tournament.
Round 1
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Total |
| Par | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 71 |
| Score | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 70 |
Round 2
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Total |
| Par | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 71 |
| Score | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5* | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 70 |
*Received two-stroke penalty afterwards
