New footage shows Shane Lowry’s ball DID move as R&A release statement on controversy at The Open

A NEW angle of Shane Lowry’s ball moving has come to light.

And the R&A released a statement on the controversial incident – as Jon Rahm called for the laws to be changed.

XShane Lowry was docked two shots after his ball moved following a practice swing[/caption]

XA new angle showed the move more clearly[/caption]

Lowry, 38, accepted a two-stroke penalty on Friday night after his ball moved very slightly after a practice swing in the rough on the 12th hole.

The Irishman did not see the ball move so did not call it on himself but the video was assessed by the R&A.

Lowry revealed he did not want to be labelled a cheat and therefore accepted the punishment, which saw him drop back from -2 to level par at the halfway point of The Open.

The original TV camera angle barely showed the golf ball rotate ever so slightly.

However, a new angle has now emerged.

And the slight shift is more obvious.

Lowry said he would have called a penalty on himself if he felt he had moved the ball.

Speaking on Friday, he said: “The last thing I want to do is sit there and argue and not take the penalty and then get slaughtered all over social media tonight for being a cheat.”

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

Now the R&A have revealed why it was handed down.

The statement read: “In Shane Lowry’s situation, the movement of the ball to another spot, including the movement of the logo, was discernible to the naked eye. 

“The naked eye test is satisfied whether or not the player was looking at the ball when it moved.

“It was clear that the ball moved immediately after the player’s club touched foliage close to the ball during a practice swing and that the player’s actions caused the ball to move.”

Quizzed on how he felt about the saga after his three-over round of 74 on Saturday, Lowry said: “I’m not too keen to talk on it too much. I think we said enough about it last night.

“Quite supportive, I would say, from the other players.

“They all feel bad for me that two shots is a lot to give up.”

One of those players showing their support was Rahm, who called for the rules to be updated.

The Spaniard said: “You’re in a no-win situation because if you say I didn’t see it, therefore I don’t think it should be a penalty, even though the rule says it should be visible to the naked eye, you always run the risk of being called something you don’t want to be called.

“And if you take it on the safe side, you’re taking a two-shot penalty.

“It’s a tough spot to be in. From what I understand from the whole thing, and I haven’t seen the images, it needs to be visible without a camera.

“It’s always going to be based on the situation, and when you get in the rough, it’s tricky.

“Something needs to be changed for sure, I just don’t know exactly how they could change it.”

USA NetworkThe shift was barely visible in the original video[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]