Shane Lowry has strongly defended his close friend Rory McIlroy, calling out the “couch pundits” who called the Northern Irishman’s loss at the US Open a “choke.”

The man from Offaly didn’t hold back when he spoke at the event last year. He let out all of his anger at the abuse McIlroy, 35, was getting for losing a two-shot lead in the last few holes at Pinehurst last June. Lowry, who came in 19th at the same event, was shocked as McIlroy’s dreams of winning the title fell apart.

The 38-year-old was on a flight to New York when he missed a heartbreaking three-footer on the 16th hole and then another short one on the 18th, giving Bryson DeChambeau the title. Lowry remembered, “It was terrible.” “I couldn’t believe it.”

The man from Clara had planned to be with McIlroy to party if he won, but he said he “didn’t want to be there if what happened f—ing happened.” Lowry wrote, “When I saw the putt he missed on 16, I was like… pffffff.” I knew his 18th hole putt was very tough.

What hurts him the most, though, isn’t the loss itself, but the “s—e” he got afterward. He yelled, “It hurts my f—ing head!”

They were sitting on the couch and saying, ‘He shouldn’t have hit the driver on 18.'” Check out where Bryson hit the car. Twenty yards to the left of where Rory hit it, but Bryson is a great kid. “That kind of s— really bothers me.”

Lowry also doesn’t believe the story that McIlroy choked. He didn’t play very well on the last holes,” the winner of The Open 2019 told the Irish Independent. “But Bryson’s bunker shot was unbelievable.”

Then he asked, “Would DeChambeau have done that up-and-down if it was just to force a playoff instead of winning outright?” “I’m sure Rory has thought about that more than once,” Lowry said.

It’s clear that the Irishman is loyal to McIlroy. They have a strong bond that was formed over years of touring together and through their shared background.

Lowry is sure that McIlroy wants to win a fifth major title, which would make him one of the 20 most successful male players in history. Lowry said, “Majors are where it’s at in this game.”

He wants to win one more time,” He wants to win a lot more, but I think that one more will lead to a lot more.

Lowry is optimistic about McIlroy’s future, even though he had a hiccup. “He’s strong.” Hard. He said, “He’ll give himself ten more chances to win majors.” “It’s just whether he does it or not.

McGilroy hasn’t won a major since 2014, and he has yet to win his first Masters. In 2022, he came in second place at Augusta, losing to Scottie Scheffler by three strokes. In 2015, he managed to come fourth.

There are a lot of people who think he will win the famous Green Jacket this month. The event starts on April 10. Just six men have ever won all four majors in their career, and he would be the seventh if he wins.