Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Shane Lowry Throws Microphone During U.S. Open Meltdown

Originally posted on Men's Journal | By Matt Hladik | Last updated Jun 12, 2025 3:33 PM ET

Shane Lowry has had better days on the golf course than Thursday's first round at the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.

Lowry was at three-over through his first seven holes when he reached the drivable par-4 17th hole. After nearly driving the green, Lowry tried to chip out of the rough, but his ball barely moved.

Already frustrated enough by a double-bogey on the previous hole, Lowry took out his anger on a greenside microphone, slamming it to the ground.

He wound up making par on No. 17, but the sight of Lowry tossing the mic is what people will remember.

Nearly drove the green on 17... then didn't get it out! pic.twitter.com/pyX5Eb3xho
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 12, 2025

Shane Lowry is not enjoying Oakmont https://t.co/BZ27ErRFrk pic.twitter.com/aCAR9Dt6iO
— Fried Egg Golf (@fried_egg_golf) June 12, 2025

Things didn't get much better after that for Lowry. The Irishman bogeyed No. 18 and then made double bogey on No. 2 to fall to six-over.

Lowry briefly steadied himself in epic fashion on No. 3, becoming the first person to ever record an eagle on the challenging hole.

However, he went on to post three bogeys and another double bogey over the final six holes, finishing at nine-over 79 for the day.

Lowry, who won the 2019 Open Championship and tied for second at the U.S. Open the last time it was at Oakmont nine years ago, entered the tournament as a potential contender.

Instead, he's going to need an impressive Friday round simply to reach the weekend. This is the second-straight major where we've seen visible displays of frustration from the 38-year-old golfer, as Lowry dropped an F-bomb on camera during the PGA Championship last month.

Then again, Lowry has always been a little loose around microphones during his career, so perhaps what we saw today was not a surprise at all.

This article first appeared on Men's Journal and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: