Golfer's Dilemma: Accepting Penalty or Facing Social Media Backlash

Shane Lowry, a well-known golfer, found himself in a tough spot during The Open Championship. He had to decide whether to accept a two-stroke penalty or risk being criticized on social media.

The Incident

The incident happened on the 12th hole of his second round. Lowry's ball moved slightly after his club touched some leaves during a practice swing. The R&A, which organizes the tournament, reviewed the footage and decided that the ball moved clearly. This meant Lowry had to add two strokes to his score.

Lowry's Reaction

Lowry admitted that he didn't see the ball move, but he understood the rules. He knew that if he didn't accept the penalty, people might accuse him of cheating. He said:

"I can't have my name talked about or tossed around like that."

His score went from two-under to even-par after the penalty. He ended up with a double bogey on the 12th hole and a one-over 72 in the second round.

Support from Fellow Golfers

Other golfers showed sympathy for Lowry. Scottie Scheffler, who was leading the tournament, said it was frustrating to watch Lowry deal with the situation. Paul McGinley, a former Ryder Cup captain, agreed that the rules are strict, but he thinks there should be some flexibility. He compared it to VAR in soccer, where tiny infractions can lead to big decisions.

Lowry's Focus Shifts

After the penalty, Lowry's focus shifted from trying to move up the leaderboard to just making it through to the weekend. He played well on the last few holes, finishing one shot above the cut line. However, he was still 10 shots behind Scheffler.

Lowry admitted that catching up would be tough, but he's determined to give it his best shot in the weekend rounds.