Shane Lowry breaks silence on controversial ‘deserve to be hit’ comments picked up by mic after wayward Irish Open drive

SHANE LOWRY has addressed the controversial remark he made on the 18th tee during Saturday’s third round of the Amgen Irish Open.

The 39-year-old admitted that he became frustrated by movement further up the hole as he prepared to hit his tee shot at Doonbeg.

Lowry then pulled his drive well left towards a crosswalk area before appearing to remark that those in the vicinity “deserve to get hit”.

The comment was picked up by the live television microphones and quickly drew criticism on social media on Saturday night.

Speaking with the Irish Examiner, Lowry was asked about the incident after his seventh DP World Tour title triumph in West Clare.

He explained: “It’s funny, right, because marshals obviously have a very tough job and they are volunteers.

“But they get a little bit in the way at times, I feel like. And 18 was just two guys going across the fairway as I’m trying to hit the shot and it’s playing really hard.

“There’s another guy walking… but any ways, you have to do a little bit yourself. But it was carnage out there. I did get a little bit… 

“The 18th tee shot for me, I practiced on Monday. I hit a tee shot 50 yards left out-of-bounds and for the rest of the week that’s all I could think about on that tee. It was quite an anxious tee box for me.

“And even today, I had a 10-shot lead, and I was like, I just can’t wait to get this tee shot over and done with.”

Clara native Lowry demolished the field to land his second Irish Open title in stunning fashion at Trump International Links Doonbeg on Sunday.

The Offaly star finished the week on a sensational 23-under, winning his second national open title 17 years after his famous Baltray triumph.

The victory marks his first solo win on either the DPWT or PGA Tour in four years.

The champion also pockets more than $1million from the tournament’s overall $6million purse, which has remained at that level since 2022.