Irish golfer Shane Lowry said he feared being “slaughtered” on social media if he did not accept the two-stroke penalty he received at The Open Championship on Friday.

Shane Lowry has been handed a two-stroke penalty at The Open 2025 following a review after his second round. The R&A determined the former Open champion deserved a penalty after his ball moved before taking a shot on the 12th hole at Royal Portrush.

Shane Lowry has been assessed a two-shot penalty for his golf ball moving in the rough on the 12th hole of the British Open.

Did Shane Lowry cause his ball to move? That's the question that remained immediately unanswered after Lowry's ball moved ever so slightly after a practice swing on his second shot at No. 11. Have a look: Lowry doesn't appear to be aware that his ball moved,

Shane Lowry was assessed a two-stroke penalty for accidentally causing his ball to move and failing to replace it to its original p