Padraig Harrington defends Shane Lowry's behaviour at The Open

Padraig Harrington has leapt to the defence of Shane Lowry after the 2019 Open champion was filmed losing his cool at Royal Liverpool.

Ben Smith

23 Jul 2023

Padraig Harrington defends Shane Lowry's behaviour at The Open

Padraig Harrington has defended Shane Lowry after the Irishman was filmed losing his cool at the 2023 Open Championship.

Lowry wasn't alone in getting frustrated at Royal Liverpool this week.

Afterall, it's a major championship - the last of the year - and represented another golden opportunity to rack up crucial Ryder Cup qualifying points.

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Because he was the 2019 Open champion and relishes playing in tough conditions, many thought Lowry had an excellent opportunity to lift the claret jug for the second time at Hoylake.

It wasn't to be and Lowry missed the cut by three strokes. It was all the more frustrating for the 36-year-old as he played his final five holes in three over par to miss out on the weekend.

Then he was filmed snapping a club over his neck.

Shane Lowry just snapped his club… #TheOpen @LowryTracker
pic.twitter.com/NTv8u6OfVP
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 21, 2023

Harrington did make the cut but finished on 8-over after posting a final round of 74. He has defended Lowry and revealed he has changed his opinion on players who vent their frustration on the course.

Harrington said: "I haven't seen it. Was it a good break?"

He continued:

"I've changed completely my whole idea that any player who wants to vent a bit frustration on themselves I have no problem as long as they don't damage the golf course or get in anybody's way.

"Shane didn't do either of those, so I've no problem at all. If you want to break all 14 clubs, fine. As long as you don't damage the course or interfere.

"And to be honest, I don't think a player getting upset once or twice doesn't interfere at all. Maybe if somebody's at it all day... I think generally, if somebody is doing that, I have a bit of a laugh about it.

"As long as it was an athletic break, I have no problem with it"

Harrington will now turn his attentions to the Senior Open at Royal Porthcawl.

"I'd love to go down there and win it," he said. "I'll wait and see what the golf course is like and the conditions for the week. It's a long time since I've played it, so we'll see."

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