Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry earned their first Ryder Cup point as a team on Saturday and it’s unlikely they’ll ever forget it.
The all-Ireland pairing went out first in the Saturday evening fourballs against Cam Young and Justin Thomas.
The pair – already a lightning rod for criticism from the boorish US fans – endured a level of abuse that has perhaps never ben seen in the Ryder Cup.
US journalists seemed legitimately shocked by what they heard from the home support and state troopers and police dogs were required to keep the American fans calm. Lowry had a number of fans ejected.
The fourball itself was nip and tuck throughout, but just as McIlroy – playing his fourth round in two days – started to flag on the back 9, Shane Lowry brought his A game. His beautiful work on holes 15, 17 and 18 silenced the US charge, as the pair won another point for Team Europe.
Recommended
McIlroy and Lowry are old friends and it’s hard to imagine them facing a more challenging afternoon on the golf course than what they endured on Saturday.
They shared a deep hug after the round before Lowry exploded with some well-earned expletives. Lowry then shared a great moment with his dad Brendan on the 18th green.
What a moment for Shane and Rory after that incredible win.
Their first Ryder Cup point.
They soaked up all the abuse and rose above it all.pic.twitter.com/2sj2UWiLxm
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) September 27, 2025
Speaking to media directly after the round, McIlroy was full of praise for the Offalyman.
“I’m so proud of this guy. He was with me — he was there for me all day. I’m drained, to say the least, and he dug in big time when he had to. I chipped in when I could here and there, but the credit
goes to this man today.”
Lowry meanwhile lapped up the moment.
It was intense. It was like something I’ve never experienced. But this is what I live for. This is it. This is, like, honestly, the reason I get up in the morning, for stuff like this. This is what I love doing. I
love being a part of this team. I really want us to win this tournament.
But that’s only a point towards victory. I think we still have a job to do. Obviously we have quite a big lead, but we need to keep the foot in the gas now and get over that line as quick as we can. Obviously I’m very happy and I’m enjoying this, but I’m going to go and cheer the boys in now and hopefully we can get a few more blue points on the board.
They split a point in Friday’s fourballs but endured – and ultimately overcame – both JT and Young, and the bellicose, partisan fans. An extraordinary victory for two of Ireland’s finest.