Shane Lowry’s second round at the 2025 PGA Championship ended in heartbreak—and controversy. The former Open Champion missed the cut by a single stroke after a brutal break on the 8th hole at Quail Hollow, where a poor lie led to a bogey and an emotional outburst. But according to Lowry, an unexpected source added fuel to the fire: an ESPN on-course reporter.

Frustration Boils Over After Unlucky Lie

Lowry had battled his way through Friday’s round, sitting right on the cut line at one-over as he approached the short, scoreable par-4 8th. He striped his tee shot down the fairway, only to find his ball resting in the bottom of a deep divot.

Trying to clarify the situation, Lowry called in a rules official. Relief is only granted if the ball settles in your own pitch mark—not just any divot. As the rules official arrived, things took a turn.

Club Slam, Curses—and a Costly Bogey

Lowry’s shot from the divot flew offline and landed in a greenside bunker. Furious, he shouted “F— this place!” and slammed his club into the ground. He went on to bogey the hole, ultimately finishing at two-over—just outside the cut.

Lowry: ESPN Reporter Crossed the Line

Speaking to reporters after the round, Lowry revealed that the tense moment was made worse by an ESPN reporter who intervened inappropriately during the ruling.

“I was just asking the referee, and the ESPN guy comes straight over and he’s like, ‘That’s not your pitch mark,’” Lowry said. “I’m like, ‘That’s not for you to talk about.’”

Lowry emphasized that he wasn’t looking for an undeserved break—he just wanted to make sure the rules were applied fairly with so much on the line.

“I don’t want a drop if it’s not my pitch mark. But with everything at stake, I needed clarity. It was just that the ESPN guy was too involved, and that really annoyed me.”

Quail Hollow Struggles Continue, But Lowry’s Season Remains Strong

Lowry acknowledged that Quail Hollow has never been kind to him—calling it “one of the only venues that I’ve never played well at.” But his 2025 season has been encouraging.

In 12 starts, he’s already posted two runner-up finishes and four top-10s, including a strong showing at last week’s Truist Championship.

And there’s more to look forward to. In two months, The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush—where Lowry famously lifted the Claret Jug in 2019.

Bottom line: Shane Lowry’s missed cut at the PGA Championship wasn’t just a case of bad luck—it was compounded by what he sees as an avoidable distraction. But with his game trending upward and Portrush on the horizon, the Irishman’s season may still be building toward a major moment.

Source: Golf – Shane Lowry calls out ‘ESPN guy’ for interfering before outburst at PGA Championship

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Bryson DeChambeau is no stranger to chasing down Rory McIlroy on golf’s biggest stages — and on Sunday at the Masters, he’ll get another shot.

DeChambeau heads into the final round just two strokes behind McIlroy, setting up a dramatic finish at Augusta National. The two will tee off together in the final pairing after an electric Saturday that saw both stars flash brilliance down the stretch.

The reigning U.S. Open champion capped his third round with a massive highlight — draining a nearly 50-foot birdie putt from just off the 18th green to post a 3-under 69. That clutch finish not only drew roars from the gallery, but also secured DeChambeau a coveted spot alongside McIlroy for the final round.

“Those last few holes, I just kept telling myself, ‘Get in that final group. Just execute,’” said DeChambeau, who’s now carded three straight rounds in the 60s. “I made a beautiful putt to finish it off — that was cool.”

This isn’t the first time DeChambeau has been in this spot. At last year’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, he found himself chasing McIlroy late in the final round. Back then, he held his nerve as McIlroy faltered, missing two short putts and bogeying three of the final four holes. DeChambeau’s memorable up-and-down from the bunker at 18 clinched the title by a single shot.

Now, they’re back at it.

Their paths briefly crossed during Saturday’s third round. DeChambeau made birdie at the par-5 15th with a slick up-and-down from behind the green, just as McIlroy was striking a beautiful tee shot into the par-3 16th. McIlroy would miss the birdie putt, settling for par.

While it wasn’t a full-on showdown yet, the moment offered a glimpse of what Sunday might bring.

“It’s always important in a major to be in the final group,” DeChambeau said. “But knowing it’s Rory? That just makes it more fun. We’re going to have a great battle tomorrow.”

McIlroy, 35, is chasing his long-awaited career Grand Slam — and after a blistering start Saturday, he looked every bit the part. He went 5-under through the first five holes, surged into the lead, and then regrouped after a couple of stumbles to eagle the 15th and close with a round of 66.

The crowd let him hear it with a standing ovation as he walked off 18. McIlroy is sitting at 12 under, two shots clear of DeChambeau.

DeChambeau’s path to contention hasn’t been flawless — but it’s been gritty. He birdied two of his first three holes Saturday, then gave one back with a bogey on No. 4. He bounced back with a birdie at No. 6 but found more trouble in the bunkers at No. 9. Still, he kept grinding.

That persistence is classic DeChambeau — the data-driven player known as “The Scientist” who never stops tinkering. After his opening-round 69, unhappy with his ball-striking, he stayed on the range under the floodlights long after the course emptied. The extra reps paid off with a 68 on Friday and another under-par round Saturday.

“I love the challenge of chasing,” he said. “You can’t let up. You have to hit every shot with full focus. Leading feels different — I’ve done that too — but tomorrow, it’s going to be about going for it.”

One year ago, DeChambeau also found himself in the mix at Augusta, but a Saturday 75 knocked him out of contention. He eventually tied for sixth.

This year, he’s right where he wants to be — in the final group, two shots back, and chasing a rival he’s already proven he can beat.

All eyes are now on Augusta’s fairways. With McIlroy gunning for history and DeChambeau playing with purpose, Sunday’s finale promises to be one for the ages.

Source: AP News – Bryson DeChambeau is trying to chase down Rory McIlroy again in a major. He has 18 holes to do it

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