Lowry Couldn't Celebrate McIlroy's Masters Win After Tough Final Round

The two Irish golfers are close friends, but Lowry was too 'down' to join the festivities after his own disappointing finish.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:22pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in muted earth tones, with sharp planes and angles representing the complex emotional experience of a golfer who struggled on the final day of a major tournament.A cubist interpretation of the emotional tension and disappointment felt by one golfer after a tough final round, even as his friend celebrates a major victory.Augusta Today

After Rory McIlroy won the 2026 Masters, he revealed that he had been watching the leaderboard during the final round to see if his friend Shane Lowry could win. However, Lowry struggled to a final-round 80 and finished T37, leaving him too dejected to celebrate with McIlroy that night. Lowry texted McIlroy that he was happy for him but didn't have the energy to come over and party. The two have supported each other throughout their careers, with Lowry celebrating McIlroy's first Masters win the previous year, but this time Lowry was just too 'down' after his own tough day on the course.

Why it matters

The close friendship between McIlroy and Lowry is well-known in the golf world, and their mutual support for each other's accomplishments is seen as a positive example of camaraderie in a highly competitive sport. However, this situation highlights the emotional toll that a poor performance can take, even on an elite athlete, and how it can impact their ability to celebrate a friend's success in that moment.

The details

Lowry shot a final-round 80 at the 2026 Masters, despite starting the day just two strokes off the lead. Even though McIlroy went on to win his first green jacket, Lowry was too 'down and dejected' to join the celebrations that night. Lowry texted McIlroy to congratulate him but said he just wanted to 'sit at home with my crew' instead of coming over. This was in contrast to the previous year, when Lowry had celebrated with McIlroy after his first Masters win, even though Lowry had struggled that Sunday as well.

  • On April 11, 2026, Lowry shot a final-round 80 at the Masters.
  • On the night of April 13, 2026, Lowry texted McIlroy that he was too 'down' to celebrate McIlroy's Masters win.

The players

Rory McIlroy

A professional golfer from Northern Ireland who won the 2026 Masters, his first career major championship.

Shane Lowry

A professional golfer from Ireland who is close friends with McIlroy, but struggled to a T37 finish at the 2026 Masters after starting the day in contention.

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What they’re saying

“I texted him Sunday night, and I said, 'Honestly, I'm so happy for you, but I don't have it in me tonight to come over and celebrate with you.'”

— Shane Lowry, Professional Golfer

“I was out there today looking at [Shane Lowry's] score because I was interested to see, if I didn't win today, I wish I would have been putting the Green Jacket on him.”

— Rory McIlroy

What’s next

Lowry and McIlroy are expected to compete against each other again in a few weeks at the RBC Heritage tournament in Florida.

The takeaway

This story highlights the emotional ups and downs that even elite athletes can experience in golf, and how personal relationships and camaraderie can be impacted when one friend has a disappointing performance while the other achieves a major career milestone. It serves as a reminder that success in sports is not just about the final result, but also about how players support each other through the highs and lows.