Shane Lowry rues a missed opportunity after a bogey on 18 and was fuming with himself when stepping on to the interview podium – Mike Segar/Reuters
Shane Lowry snapped at a reporter who asked him about Rory McIlroy’s Masters brilliance before ending the interview early, saying otherwise he would say “something stupid”.
After bogeying his final two holes on Saturday evening, the Irishman was fuming with himself as he stepped on to the interview podium at Augusta.
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Having played in front of McIlroy all day, Lowry lost his rag when a reporter asked “did you find yourself looking back at all at Rory”?
“No,” said the 2019 Open champion. “I’m not going to stand there and talk about Rory for 10 minutes. I’m trying to win the tournament as well. I know that’s what you all want me to talk about, but I’ve just had a s— finish.”
Lowry is now seven shots back of his friend McIlroy, who sits two clear of the field at the Masters after a sensational round on Saturday.
McIlroy carded a six-under 66 – featuring two eagles – to head a star-stacked leaderboard with a score of 12-under after 54 holes.
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But Lowry was instead keen to underline his own prospects as he said golfers should be given more time to cool down after their rounds before facing the media.
“I’ve got a chance to win the Masters tomorrow,” he said. “I’m gonna hit some balls. We talked about Collin Morikawa [who refused to face questions immediately after a round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational] a few weeks ago. I think we need time. I think I need half an hour now to sit there and gather my thoughts. I can’t be coming to talk to you guys straight away.
“It shouldn’t be happening. I don’t agree with it. Tennis players have to talk to media, but they have half an hour, an hour before they have to do it. I feel like we should have the same thing and that’s how I feel. I’m probably gonna say something stupid or probably already have said something stupid, because I’m p—-d off right now, so I’m just gonna leave.”
Lowry (right) and Rory McIlroy are great friends, and the former had earlier praised the world No 2’s form and the ‘unbelievable atmosphere’ he was creating – Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Lowry had earlier praised McIlroy’s form. “There was an unbelievable atmosphere out there,” he said. “Rory obviously was playing good behind and the roars, you had to stand off it a little bit, wait for those to happen, wait for him to get the shots.”
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McIlroy is bidding to become only the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam of winning all four majors.
American Bryson DeChambeau is two behind the lead on 10-under after holing a sensational 50-yard putt on 18 to wrap up a 69. Canada’s Corey Conners is eight under after a 70, while 2018 champion Patrick Reed and last year’s runner-up Ludvig Aberg are on six under. English veteran Justin Rose, who led at the halfway stage, dropped off the pace and is five under after a 75 alongside defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Jason Day and Lowry.
