Shane Lowry Didn't Skip the Post-Round Presser, But Maybe He Should Have

Shane Lowry has joined the growing list of players coming out of the woodwork in support of Colin Morikawa’s choice not to speak to the press after the Arnold Palmer Invitational and his doubling down at The PLAYERS daggering that he “didn’t owe anyone anything.”

A frustrated Lowry was the latest to go team Morikawa in a tense post-round presser following his bogey-bogey finish Saturday that left him seven off the leader, Rory McIlroy, going into the final round.

Two questions into his post-round interview, Lowry rejected the premise of a question on if he was paying attention to McIlroy’s round in the group behind him at Augusta National.

“No. No, I'm not going to stand here and talk about Rory for 10 minutes,” Lowry said. “I'm trying to win the tournament, as well. I know that's what y'all want me to talk about, but I've just had a shit finish, I've got a chance to win the Masters tomorrow, and I'm going to go hit some balls.”

Somehow, the interview continued with a reporter trying to change the tone with a shift to the good parts of his round, like his par save on 16. Lowry tried to play the game, but couldn’t get over his performance on 17 and 18, and to be fair, he was very clear about how upset it got him.

“[The final group is] where you want to be. It's what you want to do. It's what you live for. But I want to win this tournament, so I'm pissed off,” Lowry said.

And still, this painful back-and-forth between the fired-up Irishman and reporter continued until Lowry finally ended everyone’s suffering—but not before hitting home just how annoyed he was to be talking into a microphone at that exact moment.

“I'm going to go and -- we talk about Collin Morikawa a few weeks ago. I think we need time. I think I need a half an hour now to sit there and gather my thoughts. I can't be coming to talk to you guys straightaway. It shouldn't be happening. I don't agree with it.

Tennis players have to talk to the media, but they have a half an hour or hour before they have to do it. I feel like we should have the same thing. That's how I feel. I'm probably going to say something stupid. I probably already have said something stupid because I'm pissed off right now. I'm just going to leave, okay?”

Earlier this week McIlroy also voiced his support for Morikawa. When McIlroy, who is no stranger to skipping press, was asked about Morikawa’s actions and comments, he hit reporters with a “well, he’s right” before going on to say that while Morikawa could have worded it better, speaking to the media is not a contractual obligation of PGA TOUR players and we should “expect guys to do that from time to time.”

We get it, this game isn't easy and we wouldn't like microphones and cameras in our faces moments after it feels like you're losing the plot on the biggest stage in golf either. You can kind of appreciate Lowry's candor and display of sheer passion. It's a rare moment inside a pro golfer's mind showing just how much he cares. And who knows, maybe he'll channel that fire into a run up the leaderboard tomorrow.