Check after each round of 2025 Open Championship For the non -filtered thoughts of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics of the championship and join in the conversation by tweeting us @golf_com.
Shane Lowry was Given a two -stroke penalty After the second round of the open championship after his practice was determined by swinging in the 12th hole made his ball move. Lowry was informed of the review in the 15th hole and told him he would have to go after the round to see the footage. According to R&A rules, players will not be penalized if they made their ball move, but it was not clear for the “free eye”. Lowry discussed the incident with the rules officials after the round and accepted the sentence.
Lowry was asked about the penalty after the round and if he thought it was a fair decision.
“They are trying to tell me if they don’t move out of the free eye if you don’t see it moving, it didn’t move,” Lowry said. “I told them I was definitely looking down to the ball as I was getting that shaky practice, and I didn’t see it moving. But I had to take the penalty because – I’m still not sure, be it honest, whether it be, but I had to get the penalty because I couldn’t have my name to speak or throw it around.”
Was the rule unjust?
James Colgan, the editor of news and features (@Jamescolgan26) :: Uh, yes. If you need 20 minutes to determine through slow footage if a violation has occurred, you must not apply a penalty in the first place.
Josh Schrock, news editor (@Schrock_and_Awe) :: The “free eye” rule was put into force in 2013 not to rely on enhanced technological evidence. If Lowry says he did not see the ball move, then that should be like that. It feels like a goal that the USA led by Mike Davis would do, not R&A.
Nick Pastowski, high editor (@nickpia) :: Yes. If the man would say he didn’t see him, he did not see it. We seem to greet the players to be honest only when they are penalized, which is shocking to me. If you want Lowry to get the penalty, you should want the video review to be created without questions asked (and I don’t think you should want it).
Josh Sens, elderly writer (@Jossens) :: A goal for sure. Lowry credit for not making a bad teenage smell about it. But it would be difficult to blame if it were.
Dylan Dothier, old writer (@dylan_Dethier)): I am not completely clear if this should be a penalty but feels stupid enough that is this two Kick. If it is considered that he moved the ball, count it as one and continue. Completely is completely illogical that should cost you more to hit the ball randomly than on purpose.
