Royal Portrush, July 19, 2025 — Scottie Scheffler has offered his perspective on the controversial two-shot penalty handed to Shane Lowry during the second round of The Open Championship, calling it “a tough situation” for any player to go through.
Lowry was penalized after a review determined that his ball had moved slightly during a practice swing on the 12th hole. The incident wasn’t noticed in real time by Lowry or his playing partners, but video footage later revealed the movement. The R&A assessed a two-stroke penalty under Rule 9.4b, turning what had been a 70 into a 72 and pushing the 2019 Open champion further down the leaderboard.
Scheffler, who leads the tournament heading into the weekend after a clinical 64, watched the footage and discussed the matter after his round.
“Ultimately in golf, it’s up to the player to be honest and uphold the rules,” Scheffler said. “Shane did that. He reported everything the way he saw it. It’s just a really difficult situation when technology ends up catching something that you didn’t even know happened.”
The American star emphasized that while rules are in place for fairness, the game’s increasing reliance on slow-motion video is creating dilemmas no player wants to face.
“I don’t think anyone is trying to gain an advantage with things like that. It’s unfortunate. But the officials made their decision, and we move forward.”
Lowry, who appeared visibly frustrated after learning of the decision, had earlier told media he was “gutted” but accepted the ruling.
Scheffler’s comments reflect growing concerns among players about the use of high-definition replay in real-time rulings—especially in majors, where every stroke matters.
With two rounds to go at Royal Portrush, Scheffler remains the man to beat. But the drama surrounding Lowry’s penalty has added a layer of tension to what’s already shaping up to be a fiercely contested Open.
