Overview

• The R&A assessed Lowry a two-stroke penalty after a video review flagged his ball moving during a practice swing on the par-5 12th hole.
• The ruling, based on a single zoomed-in slow-motion replay, dropped the former champion to level par.
• Lowry publicly disputed the sufficiency of the evidence and criticized the lack of multiple camera angles.
• He said he accepted the penalty to avoid social media backlash and preserve his reputation.
• The incident underscores golf authorities’ growing reliance on broadcast footage under tighter accidental movement guidelines.