Shane Lowry Stuns Golf World with Dramatic Eagle Finish to Capture Historic Open Victory

Shane Lowry’s bid to reclaim the Claret Jug at the 2025 British Open took a dramatic turn at Royal Portrush when the Irishman was hit with a two-stroke penalty after his ball moved during a practice swing on the 12th hole of Friday’s second round. Lowry, who carded a 68 on Thursday, saw his momentum stall when officials ruled that he failed to replace the ball, dropping him from five-under to three-under and shaking up a tightly packed leaderboard. Speaking after his round, the 36-year-old accepted the ruling but admitted frustration: “I didn’t see it move, but the cameras did. If I argued I’d get slaughtered on social media, so I took it on the chin,” he told reporters. The R&A released an official statement Saturday morning confirming the decision and reiterating its zero-tolerance stance on replacing a moved ball, a reminder of how razor-sharp the rules can be under Major-championship scrutiny. Compounding matters, Lowry revealed he has been battling a stomach virus since Friday night. “I felt like throwing up all over the place,” he said after a third-round 74 that sent him tumbling outside the top 30. Despite the illness, he continues to draw roars from Portrush galleries that still remember his unforgettable 2019 triumph on these same Dunluce links. Statistically, Lowry’s iron play remains solid—he ranks fifth in strokes-gained approach this week—but the penalty and cold putter (31 putts in Round 3) have turned a potential title charge into an uphill battle. With Sunday’s forecast calling for swirling coastal winds, Lowry will likely need something in the mid-60s to climb back into contention and secure one of the five automatic berths into next year’s Open that go to top-finishing non-exempt players. Should he fall short, the Offaly native can still take positives into the FedExCup Playoffs: he sits 24th in the season standings and, according to his team, plans to tee it up at the Wyndham Championship before a brief break ahead of the BMW. “I’m disappointed, but there’s plenty of golf left this summer,” Lowry noted, flashing the resilience that has made him a fan favorite across both sides of the Atlantic. For Portrush locals, however, Sunday’s final round is all about one more Lowry charge along the rugged Antrim coast. If the putter heats up and the virus cools down, the galleries could yet witness another chapter in the Shane Lowry fairytale—penalty strokes, stomach bug, and all.