Shane Lowry announces new deal hours after confirming shock split

Former Open champion Shane Lowry has multiyear partnership with a US-based medtech group. 

Stryker confirmed on Wednesday ahead of the Travelers Championship that the multiple PGA Tour winner will become one of the company's brand ambassadors. 

The company, which manufactures medical and surgical devises, employs around 56,000 people worldwide - including 5,000 in Ireland. 

Stryker's branding will appear alongside Lowry's kit from the Travelers onwards. 

Lowry has several other sponsors, including Greyson, FootJoy, Srixon, Cleveland Golf, RBC and Consello. 

Kingspan was one of Lowry's most visible sponsors from 2017 until 2024. 

Lowry faced criticism because Kingspan's products were used as part of the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower in London, where a fire killed 72 people in June 2017. 

The report into the disaster was highly critical of Kingspan, accusing the company of dishonest marketing practices and serious fire-safety failings. 

For years, the survivors' group urged Lowry to end his ties with the company. In September 2024, Lowry and Kingspan announced they had "mutually agreed" to end their sponsorship relationship. 

The latest sponsorship news comes as Lowry has made the decision to part ways with his caddie Darren Reynolds. 

Reynolds assumed looping duties in 2023 after he parted ways with Bo Martin. 

Lowry later told of how his split with Martin appeared to be acrimonious. 

The 39-year-old decided to shake-up his team after another frustration U.S. Open performance whereby he missed the cut for the second consecutive year. 

He signed for a pair of 73s at Shinnecock Hills to miss the cut by two shots and told the Irish Times that the sport is "just not agreeing with me at the moment". 

"I feel like there’s something missing, but I don't know what is, and it's pretty hard [to take]. But what can you do?

"I'm not enjoying it. I didn't have any fun this week. It's been hard. It's not like I’m shooting 85. Two 73s is not great, but it's here and there, a couple of shots and, all of a sudden, I'm shooting good scores.

"I'd love to know what's going on and I’m beating my head against a brick wall, because honestly, I know I missed a couple of short putts this week, but that's these poa annua greens this week.

"I felt like I rolled the ball pretty well. I felt like I did a lot of things well, and I'm going home Friday evening. It's pretty s---, to be honest."

Lowry has a familiar face carrying his sticks this week. 

Dermot Byrne, who caddied for Lowry during the first decade of his professional career, has replaced Reynolds. 

Lowry said he has "no idea" if the switch will be permanent. 

"We'll see what the plan is going forward," he added.