Royal Portrush, July 19, 2025 — Broadcaster Sky Sports was forced to issue a swift on-air apology after Irish golfer Shane Lowry was caught using explicit language during live coverage of The Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
The incident occurred during the second round of play when Lowry, visibly frustrated after a missed birdie opportunity on the 14th hole, muttered an expletive that was picked up by nearby microphones. The comment, aired during peak coverage hours, was broadcast uncensored to viewers across the UK and Ireland.
The outburst came after Lowry lipped out from five feet, a putt that would have moved him closer to the lead on a blustery day where scoring proved difficult for much of the field.
Within minutes, Sky Sports anchor Nick Dougherty addressed the situation, saying, “We’d like to apologise to viewers for any offensive language you may have heard. These moments can be heated, and emotions sometimes run high out on the course.”
Lowry, the 2019 Open Champion and one of the home favourites at this year’s event in Northern Ireland, has built a reputation as a passionate competitor. While some fans took to social media to defend the golfer, suggesting the slip was understandable under the circumstances, others expressed disappointment that such language was allowed to air without a bleep or delay.
The R&A, which governs The Open, declined to comment directly but reiterated its commitment to maintaining a “family-friendly broadcast environment.”
Lowry did not speak to reporters about the incident after his round but remained in contention heading into the weekend, sitting just a few shots off the lead.
This isn’t the first time players have let their frustrations boil over at a major championship, but the rapid apology from Sky highlights the ongoing challenges broadcasters face in balancing live coverage with maintaining standards for all audiences.
