Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup 2023: Shane Lowry locks up celebration of the week (and he wasn't even playing)
Shane Lowry would have likely preferred to play both sessions on Friday at Marco Simone, especially after winning his foursomes match alongside Sepp Straka. Everybody wants the ball, as they say. However, you can still make your presence felt from the sidelines at the Ryder Cup, which is exactly what the Irishman did in the late afternoon.
With the first of four four-ball matches making it's way toward the 18th green, Lowry and co. congregated right of the fairway to take in the action. His European teammates, Viktor Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton, were all tied with Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, who were in desperate need of a red flag on the board to change the momentum. With Thomas in tight, having just four feet left for birdie, Hovland needed to drain a bomb to at least guarantee a halve. A miss, plus a Thomas make, would result in a loss.
Hovland's putt was tracking all the way but began to lose steam as it got closer to the hole. Somehow, though, it made one last revolution in, causing a volcanic eruption from the Italian crowd. And from Lowry, who you can see entering the frame behind Hovland in what might be the funniest video of the week:
Shane Lowry: the ultimat locker room presence. Vibes on vibes. Look at those uppercut fist pumps and tell me that guy is mad that he sat in the afternoon session. Hell, he may have had the best day of anyone. 1-0-0 record and he gets to rest for a few hours and cheer on the boys. Not a bad little Friday.