Shane Lowry is back in front of the microphones at Royal Portrush. Same place, new chapter. In 2019, he lifted the Claret Jug here — a record-breaking performance and unforgettable scenes. Now, for the British Open 2025, he’s brought those memories along — but he’s intentionally leaving them out of the equation. “What I did was very special, and to walk down the 18th hole with a six-shot lead, I’m probably never going to do that again so I’m not going to try and replicate that this week,” Lowry said. “I just need to get my head down on Thursday morning and get after it and see what happens.” The grandstands are back, the grass is tighter, the expectations higher — but Shane Lowry is staying grounded. No myth, just a golf course. “No matter what I done then, it doesn’t give me any God-given right to do anything special this week.”
Lowry on the British Open 2025: The Worse It Feels, the Better It Plays?
Lowry doesn’t shy away from mental games — including with himself. “How am I feeling? I’m feeling great the last two days, so that’s not great,” he laughed. “I’ve had a great week of practice. I just need to play shit for the next couple of days, and I’ll be all right.”
He knows from experience that things can click when they feel off. “Go back to 2019 here, I had a meltdown on the Wednesday because I thought I wasn’t going to go out and play well, but then that focuses me in a little bit more.”
Working with coach Neil Manchip and sports psychologist Bob Rotella, Lowry focuses on keeping expectations in check. “If I can keep my complacency away and my expectation down, that’s when I’m at my best.”
Home Turf Over Scotland
His preparation this year was different. “I do feel like I played too much golf in the lead-up to the U.S. Open. I played 9 of 11 weeks, and I feel like that really got to me. When the going got tough, I wasn’t there for it mentally, and that’s my own fault.”
So instead of Scotland, he chose the familiar rhythm of home. “In the last two weeks I’ve played Portmarnock, The Island, Baltray, Waterville, Hogs Head and Adare Manor… The weather was almost too good — that was the issue.” Being back home helped: “I haven’t been home to Ireland since Christmas as well, so I’ve been home for the last three weeks… I kind of feel like a little bit rejuvenated and ready to go again.”
His take on the season? “I’ve given myself a couple of chances to win, which I’m very disappointed that I didn’t… No matter how well you’re playing the season, if you don’t have a win beside your name at least once, you don’t really class it as been very good.”
Between Rory and Home-Crowd Pressure
Lowry and Rory McIlroy — more than just colleagues: “We have become quite close over the last number of years… I certainly feel like I’ve learned a lot from his work ethic and how I apply myself to the game now.”
And that iconic first-tee moment from 2019? “I reckon that first tee that morning in 2019 was the most nervous I’ve ever been… Rory didn’t do that. I remember talking to him… and he did put a lot of pressure on himself… I’m sure he’s not going to do that this week.”
What do they want now? “All we want to do is give ourselves a chance come the weekend, and if you give yourself a chance, you never know what could happen.”
Memories, Yes — Repeats, No
His face now appears on a mural near the club — but it’s not something that inflates his ego. “I’m happy I have to drive the other way. I don’t have to drive past it every day.”
And about the honour: “Honestly, I’m just myself. Day-to-day, I just happen to be okay at golf and lucky enough that I got to achieve some pretty cool things.”
Lowry on the course: “I think it’s perfect right now. I think it’s ready for a great week of golf… I forgot how well-bunkered it is.”
What the weather will do? Nobody knows. But for Lowry, there’s no pressure to repeat the past — only opportunity. “I feel like I’m a better golfer than I was in 2019. I am a better golfer than I was in 2019. But it doesn’t mean I’m going to go out and win by seven this year instead of six. It’s just golf.”
