Shane Lowry has pointed out that he was responsible for two rule changes in professional golf ahead of the 2026 season.
The former Open champion endured a frustrating campaign at times last year, making headlines for a small number of outbursts on the course.
1
Lowry is back in action at the Dubai Desert Classic this week – and there are some new rules in playCredit: Getty
Most notably, Lowry found himself in the centre of a major rules storm during The Open Championship at Royal Portrush last July.
After a wayward tee shot in pouring rain, officials controversially deemed that Lowry caused his ball to move with a practice swing, resulting in a two-shot penalty.
It split opinion and effectively ended the Irishman’s bid to win at Portrush again – and what became known as the ‘Lowry Rule’ has now changed.
Decision-makers at the R&A and USGA recently introduced a new local rule, deeming players are no longer considered to have played from the wrong place if they are completely unaware their ball may have moved.
READ MORE ON GOLF
Under this new rule, Lowry would have only been docked one stroke.
Another frustrating incident occurred for the 38-year-old at the 2025 PGA Championship, when he found his ball embedded in another player’s pitch-mark in the fairway.
Under previous rules, players were only entitled to free relief if their ball was embedded in their own pitch-mark, meaning a furious Lowry had to play the ball as it lay.
This has since changed to allow for pitch-marks created by other players in the field.
And it is not lost on Lowry that his misfortune has been a catalyst for change.
Speaking ahead of the Dubai Desert Classic, the world no.26 told Skratch: “At Quail Hollow, when I was in the plug mark, and they changed the rule.
“Two rules were changed because of me last year. [The other one was] when my ball moved at Portrush. That’s changed now as well.
“I’m just changing the game!”
Each of Lowry’s unfortunate situations had the same thing in common: the Irishman shouting – ‘F*** this place’.
He yelled the same three words at the 2025 US Open at Oakmont on his way to missing the cut.
When asked whether that is a reflection of his mental frustration, rather than the golf course he is playing, Lowry responded: “Yes and no. There are certain courses I don’t like.
“It’s funny because I finished second at Oakmont the last time – then I’m at Oakmont and I’m saying it.
“But I’m 12-over par for the tournament, what do you want me to say?
“I remember that hole as well. I hit a lovely wedge shot to ten feet on a par-five to a back-left pin.
Read More on talkSPORT
“Then I three-putted. I was just like, ‘What do you want me to say?’ Do you want me to say, ‘It’s so fun out here, I’m shooting 12-over and being made to look like an idiot’?
“You feel like you’re hitting decent shots into greens and they’re just rolling off into the rough and you can’t get up-and-down.”