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2d ago

R&A Defends Two-Stroke Penalty on Lowry as Players Demand Rule Reform

Lowry’s contentious sanction, assessed through slow-motion footage, left him on the cut line at even par prompting calls to clarify Rule 9.4’s application

Jul 18, 2025; Portrush, IRL; Shane Lowry plays on the 12th hole during the second round of The 153rd Open Championship golf tournament.
Scottie Scheffler of the U.S., pictured shaking hands with Ireland's Shane Lowry, said Lowry wad been put in a "tough situation."
Shane Lowry of Ireland on the 15th hole during day two of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 18, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland.

Overview

  • Lowry accepted a two-stroke penalty for an imperceptible ball movement on the 12th hole to avoid cheating allegations and finished at even par, making the cut by one shot and starting the weekend 10 strokes behind leader Scottie Scheffler.
  • The R&A issued a statement detailing its three-part criteria under Rule 9.4 and affirmed that ball movement, naked-eye discernibility and causation were all met in Lowry’s case.
  • Officials relied on a single zoomed-in broadcast replay angle undetectable during live play to determine that Lowry’s practice swing had caused the ball to move.
  • World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley criticized the strict enforcement and urged greater leeway for movements imperceptible to the naked eye.
  • The debate has intensified over how to balance technology-driven officiating with golf’s spirit and prompted proposals for clearer guidelines on video-based rulings.