Irish golfer Shane Lowry has accepted a two-stroke penalty at the 2025 Open Championship after a rules violation on the 12th hole at Royal Portrush—but insists he will not be branded a “cheat.”

The incident occurred when Lowry’s ball appeared to move slightly during a practice swing in the rough. The R&A, golf’s governing body, ruled that Lowry caused the ball to move and assessed the penalty after reviewing the footage.

Lowry Disagrees with the Ruling

Lowry, who won The Open the last time it was held at Portrush in 2019, said he did not notice the ball move and was disappointed that the decision was made based on limited camera angles.

“If I had seen it move, I would’ve called it on myself,” said Lowry, currently ranked 18th in the world.
“The last thing I want is to be called a cheat on social media tonight.”

Lowry received the penalty while playing the 15th hole, leaving him even-par overall, just one shot above the cut line, and dropping from T-17 to T-34.

Fighting to Stay in the Tournament

Despite the setback, Lowry responded impressively with a birdie on the 15th, helping him make the weekend cut by a single stroke.

He emphasized that he respected the ruling process and didn’t argue with officials, but he expressed concern over the reliance on zoomed-in, slow-motion footage rather than a full range of camera angles.

Support from Fellow Players

Lowry’s playing partner, world number one Scottie Scheffler, acknowledged the difficulty of the situation.

“It looked really hard to tell from the video. It was a tough spot,” said Scheffler.
“In golf, it’s ultimately up to the player, and Shane handled it really well.”

Scheffler, who leads the tournament, stopped short of commenting on the penalty itself but expressed frustration over the situation Lowry had to endure.

“The last thing anyone wants in this sport is to be accused of cheating,” he added.

Moving Forward

Though now 10 shots behind the leader, Lowry remains focused and determined heading into the weekend rounds. His commitment to the spirit of the game, even under pressure, was evident in his acceptance of the ruling—despite his disagreement with how it was reached.