Shane Lowry, now a two-time Irish Open winner, has a habit of wearing his heart on his sleeve and uttering the first wrong word—usually a cuss that half entertains and half maddens fans—that comes to mind. It always proves problematic for him. So much so that even Lowry’s explanation about the alleged incident on the 18th hole leaves one wanting for more.
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In R3, on the 18th, Lowry, who has struggled at the Irish Open over the years, uttered the words that he probably shouldn’t have. The Irishman was caught saying, “They deserved to get hit.” After the win, he spoke about two specific people walking across the 18th, but didn’t seem apologetic.
When asked about getting a “little bit upset on 18” at the post-final round press conference, Lowry replied, “It’s funny, right, because marshals obviously have a very tough job and they are volunteers, but they get a little bit in the way at times, I feel. Like [on the] 18th, it was just two guys going across the fairway as I’m trying to hit the shot and it’s playing really hard [so I got a little upset].”
Could it be that his words were directed at these two unidentified people crisscrossing the fairway and not toward the volunteers, TV crews, and some spectators standing near the dune? Possible. It’s anyone’s guess, at the point, who Lowry was angry with. But the comment, nevertheless, seemed extremely callous. Lowry also explained why that happened at all.
“It was carnage out there. I did get a little bit — the 18 tee shot for me, I practiced on Monday. I hit a tee shot 50 yards left out-of-bounds and for the rest of the week, that’s all I could think about on that tee. It was quite an anxious tee box for me. And even today, I had a 10-shot lead, and I was like, I just can’t wait to get this tee shot over and done with. But yeah, it was like — it was mad.”
It makes sense, but being present on the course is exactly what they are supposed to do. The job of marshals and volunteers is to manage the flow of play, control crowds, and assist players. In a pro tournament, they have to spot the balls or guide players through the course. But to their credit, Lowry, who was already frustrated with slow play at the tournament, and his caddie, Dermot Byrne, did do their part.
After Lowry’s ball veered left and Byrne noticed people standing next to the rope, he quickly shouted, “Fore! Fore!” to warn them. Unfortunately, the people did not move on time. No, no one was hurt, but it did incite that particular reaction from Lowry, who hit a marshal last season at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. No, there was no warning then.
Looking back at the incident, Lowry described the entire week as “mad.” He later confessed he and his caddie were laughing about it and would probably look back on the experience years later and see how unusual it was. This part of his confession, however, made sense. You see, there was a good chance he was going to lose again.
On Saturday, despite the stellar play from his side, Lowry had just a four-shot lead over Jacob Skov Olesen. He was also playing some of the best golf of his already poor season, where he had failed to make a mark otherwise. He was also looking for his first DP World Tour win in four years, and at the same place where he had won as an amateur 17 years ago, not to mention the Irish Open he lost six years ago. A lot was at stake, including his daughters’ wish.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the win, Lowry confessed, “My daughters always ask me, ‘When are you going to bring a trophy home?’ So yes, I’m going to bring one home. She’s going to be absolutely delighted with that.” He was stressed out and hopeful, sure, but did it justify his behavior? No, said the fans, who flamed him.
The live broadcast caught Lowry’s comment, and it quickly spread online. Lowry was criticized for appearing to insult the volunteers and spectators at his home national open. One fan called the comment “scandalous” and said Lowry should be fined. Another said the fans deserved an apology, while a third called the remark “disgusting.” Considering the previous incidents, it is largely assumed Lowry probably predicted such reactions.
But the stress really did work in his favor, including on Sunday when he registered a historic 11-shot victory to win his second Irish Open. His first came 17 years earlier in 2009, when he won as a 22-year-old amateur after beating Robert Rock in a playoff. There was another thing that caught his attention.
Lowry pointed to the unusual atmosphere around the tournament, with President Trump at the event, enormous crowds, and strong home support behind him.
“The President of the United States on first tee and the crowds, and it was an amazing day. The sun was out. Like I was holing putts. The crowds are going bananas,” he added. He did not forget to talk about his competitors, either.
Lowry also praised Jacob Skov Olesen, who finished in a tie for seventh. “Jacob, I’m sure it was a tough environment for him to play golf in, but he’s young and he’ll learn from that hopefully. He’s a proper player. I was very impressed with him yesterday. It was all a bit mad,” Lowry said.
Lowry has had other hot-mic moments in the past. He swore during the 2025 PGA Championship after a ruling dispute and again at the 2025 Open Championship after losing a tee shot at Royal Portrush. This latest incident, however, attracted different criticism because his comment appeared to be targeting people near the course.
In the end, Lowry’s second Irish Open title came during a week full of unusual moments.