U.S. Open 2025: Shane Lowry's rules violation was so absurd that he and Rory McIlroy could only laugh about it

OAKMONT, Pa.—The U.S. Open is as much a mental test as it is physical. Still, the rules violation Shane Lowry found himself in Friday afternoon at Oakmont was so absurd that he and Rory McIlroy could only laugh at it.

Lowry, the 2019 Open champion, opened the national championship with a 79 on Thursday, meaning he had to do something special on Friday to reach the weekend. That didn’t come to fruition; instead, Lowry was 14 over for the tournament as he made his way to the 14th green. We should also add that, with humid temperatures and rounds approaching six hours, it seems easy for one to check out of the proceedings.

All of which is to say, we don’t blame Lowry for what happened next, as he picked up his ball on the 14th green before marking it, resulting in a one-shot rules violation.

Lowry immediately recognized what he did, smiling at this blunder, and playing partner McIlroy joined in. Good to see, despite both coming out on the business end of Oakmont, the two haven’t lost their sense of humor.

But just to be safe, someone have a pint of Guinness waiting for the man when he walks off 18.