Shane Lowry launches X-rated rant at cameraman as Open chances suffer blow

Shane Lowry was visibly frustrated with a cameraman during his second round at The Open Championship on Friday, leading to a costly double bogey at Royal Troon. The 2019 Open champion had started the tournament strong on Thursday with a five-under-par 66, trailing only Englishman Dan Brown. Lowry began Friday’s round early and quickly climbed to the solo lead at seven-under by the 11th hole, the notorious “railway hole” that had troubled Rory McIlroy in the opening round.

Lowry managed to keep his tee shot in play but ended up with a poor lie in the fescue. As he attempted his second shot, the long grass caught the hosel of his club, sending the ball left over the gallery and into a gorse bush. Frustrated with the outcome, Lowry directed his anger at a cameraman, saying, “As I was over the ball I could just see you putting your ——- camera up. Just get out of the way. Just get back there. —- sake.”

Believing his ball was lost, Lowry took a drop and played what he thought was his fourth shot onto the green. However, he soon learned that a member of the crowd had found his original ball deep in the bush. Consequently, his shot onto the green was invalid. He had to declare his ball unplayable, take another drop, and hit his fourth shot again from a more challenging angle. This time, he fell short of the green.

His bogey putt went three feet past the hole, and he ended up with a double-bogey six, dropping him back to a share of the lead with Brown at five-under.

Despite the setback, Lowry remained optimistic. Reflecting on his impressive first round, he said, “It’s great, but there’s three rounds left. If I don’t play well the next three rounds, it doesn’t matter what I shot today. I’m fully aware that I have a job to do over the next three days. I’d give anything to win this tournament again. I’d give anything to give myself a chance to win this tournament again, and that’s why I’m here this week. This is obviously a great start to do that.”