Rory McIlroy etched his name in golf history by becoming just the fourth player to win The Masters in consecutive years. But when the champagne started flowing, his closest friend on tour wasn’t there to raise a glass.
Shane Lowry – the 2019 British Open champion – stayed home that Sunday night.
The bond between McIlroy and Lowry runs deep. They’ve known each other for over two decades, with the Northern Irishman and Irishman forming a friendship that goes beyond the typical tour camaraderie. Lowry’s even admitted he gets protective of McIlroy, particularly given the scrutiny that comes with being one of golf’s biggest names.
“We have known each other 21, 22 years I would say. When you are Rory McIlroy who is probably the greatest player of our generation, people or not themselves around you,” Lowry explained on Netflix’s “Full Swing” documentary.
“When I hang out with him, I am myself, and I think I am probably a breath of fresh air for him at times. You know, he can just get away and be himself and be normal. I feel I am good for him, but he is really good for me.”
So why the no-show?
A Collapse That Hit Too Close
Lowry had his own reasons to dream heading into Sunday’s final round. He sat just two shots behind the leaders – McIlroy and Cameron Young, who were tied at 11-under. A major championship was within reach, the kind of opportunity that doesn’t come around often.
Then the wheels came off.
An 8-over 80 sent Lowry tumbling down the leaderboard. He finished in a tie for 30th, watching nearly $1 million slip away along with his shot at a second major title. The collapse was complete, and the disappointment ran deeper than just the money or the finish.
Following the round, Lowry couldn’t muster the energy to celebrate his friend’s historic achievement. He sent McIlroy a text instead.
“I texted him on Sunday night, and I said, ‘Honestly, I’m so happy for you, but I don’t have it in me tonight to go over and celebrate,’” Lowry told Irish publication The Independent. “I was feeling a bit down and dejected a little bit, so I just stayed at home with my crew, but I’ll see him in a couple of weeks in Florida.”
It’s a brutally honest admission – the kind that reveals just how much these tournaments mean to players who’ve tasted major championship glory before. Lowry knew what he was missing out on, both in terms of the win itself and the celebration with his closest friend on tour.
You can’t really blame him. McIlroy’s his friend, sure. But watching your own chance at golf immortality evaporate in real time leaves a mark that doesn’t fade in a few hours.
The question is whether McIlroy understood where his friend was coming from that night.