Paul McGinley has never been one to hold back when it comes to offering up his opinion and Shane Lowry found that out the hard way during The Open in 2024.
Lowry won The Open at Royal Portrush and he’s had chances to add another claret jug to his résumé as well.
One of those chances came at Royal Troon in 2024, when Xander Schauffele ended up reigning supreme.
Unfortunately for the Irishman, he struggled in all four majors in 2025, with two missed cuts and T-40 and T-42 finishes.
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In fact, Lowry cut an angry and frustrated figure on the golf course throughout 2025.
Lowry’s behavior during The US Open drew huge criticism, after some of his angry outbursts on the course.
However, the 2019 Open champion was even more angry the previous year at Royal Troon when he took aim at the R&A due to the way that they set up the golf course.
Shane Lowry fumed at The Open setup in 2024
Lowry was finely poised to win his second Open Championship last year, when he led at Royal Troon after two rounds.
The Irishman posted rounds of 66 and 69 to lead on seven-under-par heading into the weekend.
However, things went quickly downhill for Lowry during round three as he carded a disappointing six-over-par 77.
After his third round 77, Lowry spoke out about the course setup at Royal Troon.
The Irishman said: “It wasn’t much fun. You know, driver, driver in 15, 16 playing ridiculously long, driver into 17.
“Then you’re standing on the 18th tee wondering whether you can actually hit the fairway, if you can actually reach the fairway.
“It was 230 yards to the fairway. You’d have to question why there wasn’t a couple of tees put forward today, to be honest.“
Considering how much Lowry loves links golf, those comments from him seemed really strange at the time.
One of the incredibly exciting things about championships that are hosted on links golf courses is how conditions can completely change throughout the day.
Lowry was on the wrong end of the bad weather during round three of The Open in 2024 and he didn’t react well to that.
Sour grapes perhaps? Quite possibly.
Paul McGinley said Shane Lowry would regret his statement
Paul McGinley works as a golf analyst during the biggest events these days and he wasn’t impressed by his fellow countryman’s comments one little bit.
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“That’s nonsense, that’s links golf courses,“ McGinley exclaimed.
“Yes, the guys at the end got screwed, and yes, the golfing gods decided to shuffle the pack by making the leaders play in the toughest weather conditions, but that’s the perils of playing links golf and that’s kind of part of what you have to accept.
“Shane will regret that comment. I know what he’s like; he was hot when he came off. He let a great opportunity slip to win this tournament, and he knew that.
“He was hot he had to do press, and he said things that I’m sure he has regretted because nobody loves links golf courses more than he does.“
McGinley made a great point there.
Sometimes you get the luck of the draw and sometimes you don’t, especially during Open Championship weeks.
Lowry knows that deep down as well, and he probably regrets saying what he did at Royal Troon back in 2024.
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