© Kyle Terada/Imagn
Rory McIlroy made history when he became just the fourth player to ever win The Masters in back-to-back years. However, when it came time to celebrate, he had to do so without one of his best friends on the PGA Tour, Shane Lowry.
McIlroy and Lowry go back years, with the Irishman and Northern Irishman forming a close bond after years of playing alongside one another. Lowry even admitted that he can be protective of McIlroy at times.
“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,” he said 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,” Lowry added. “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 is that when McIlroy was celebrating one of the crowning achievements of his career, Lowry was nowhere to be seen?
Shane Lowry Was Too Upset Over His Own Play To Celebrate Rory McIlroy’s Win
Entering the final round, McIlroy was tied for the lead at 11-under with Cameron Young. But Lowry, whose only major championship victory came in 2019 at the British Open, trailed by just two shots.
Ultimately, he went on to shoot an 8-over par, 80 in the final round, finishing all the way down in a tie for 30th and costing himself nearly $1 million in the process.
Afterward, Lowry couldn’t find it in himself to celebrate.
“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 paper 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 hard to fault Lowry in that situation. Yes, McIlroy is his friend. But at the same time, you just watched one of your own personal goals slip out of reach.
Hopefully, McIlroy was able to be a little understanding in the situation.