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13th January 2026
10:42am GMT

Ever since announcing himself on the world stage with his victory as an amateur at the 2009 Irish Open, Shane Lowry has been one of the most popular golfers among fans.
His down-to-earth persona makes the Clara man extremely likeable, as does his passion for celebrating wins as much, if not more, than any player on tour.
However, the influence of social media has exaggerated Lowry's fondness for alcohol, with fellow pros surprised at his lack of drinking considering his portrayal in the media.
Speaking on The 2 Johnnies podcast, the 2019 Open winner revealed the truth behind his drinking and added an anecdote involving the 2025 US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley.
He said: "I don’t actually drink as much as people say. I don’t get back to Ireland that much so when I come back I love going for a few drinks with my friends.
"I have an inside joke with Keegan Bradley. I know Keegan fairly well and Keegan’s like, ‘There’s this persona with you that you drink so much’, and I never drink when I’m with him.
"He’s like, ‘Have a drink’, and I’m like, no I don’t want to drink, I’ll have a Diet Coke, I’m grand. He hates that I have this persona."
"After The Open it was very well documented, social media went bananas, everywhere I went. A few golfers have said to me after that they wish they celebrated their wins like that.
"It’s not going to be like that forever so you have to enjoy it."
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