Fallible Heroes, Forgotten Players and the Putt That Saved Europe
- PG Geldenhuys
- Sep 30
- 4 min read
“I knew I had to do something.”
I grew up in a small town with a charismatically popular father, a former beauty queen mother and a gorgeous younger sister. And it sometimes felt all people wanted to talk about was them.
That’s what it must feel like to be Shane Lowry. One of the world’s best golfers. An Irishman who has summited to the very top by winning a Major Championship, the 2019 British Open. A consistent contender who challenged for the 2025 US Masters. Yet, sitting at 6th only 3 strokes away from the leader after the second round, all the press wanted to talk about was his mate’s chance of winning it… and one can forgive Lowry for demanding that they focus on him for once.
You see, Shane Lowry is playing in the Rory McIlroy era. McIlroy, with his rock star swagger and prodigious length off the tee, is the fulcrum everywhere he goes. He draws crowds, ratings and drama. He did win that Masters, in heroic and dramatic fashion, displaying all of his failings, his talent and his resilience, while Lowry faded to the back of the field. The two are great friends and countrymen and have been playing together since they were juniors. And the chubby and affable Lowry, who seems like the guy we all want to have a beer with, has become used to playing second fiddle.
Until 2025. Until the Ryder Cup.
McIlroy, the spiritual leader of the team, once again brought the team to the brink of victory. Undefeated in four days of pairings, he was completely tapped out by both his personal expenditure of energy and the hostility of the crowd by Saturday afternoon. Lowry, his playing partner, rose to the occasion. He played the big putts, made the putts that mattered, and ensured that Europe put another all-important point on the board.
Come Sunday, it was supposed to be a victory procession. Europe held a seemingly unassailable 12-5 lead, needing only two points to retain the Ryder Cup. Yet the Americans finally found their groove. And one by one, the European stars faltered. McIlroy. Fleetwood. Rose. Rahm. Men who had played like gods the previous four days, but who now looked mortal. Fallible. And by the time Shane Lowry reached the 18th green at Bethpage Black, the most unlikely of American comebacks seemed more and more plausible.
The crowd got their money’s worth. His opponent was Russell Henley, also one of the minor actors in the play. Henley was 1-up and looking to redeem a disappointing couple of days. He played a magnificent approach out of a fairway bunker, putting the ball a mere 10 feet away from the hole. Lowry responded like a champion, drilling his approach to 6 feet. In front of a jam-packed and vocal grandstand, Henley’s putt came up short. The audience gasped, then went dead silent as Lowry lined up his putt. He made no mistake, tying the match with a brilliant birdie. It meant 14-11 on the scoreboard, a number that signified Europe retaining the Ryder Cup, and mission accomplished. And then the celebration… A release of tension, a tearful and emotional reunion with his teammates, and American fans streaming for the exits.
The other “other guys” at the back ended up delivering a couple more points, making it an outright victory. And, in the post-match press conference, those men – MacIntyre and Hatton – shared Shane Lowry’s world. Because all the journos wanted to do was talk to Rory. How he felt. How he handled it. What made Luke Donald so special as a captain. But you know what? I don’t think any of them cared. As a team, they knew. As the lesser lights, they had brought it home. And that’s what truly mattered.
Still. Shane Lowry made the biggest putt of his life, had his moment of glory… and the golfing world will never, ever again forget about him.
Must be nice.
PG’s Pro Tip:
Bank on your moneymen but never forget the other guys that need to bring the trophy home. It was true for this European team, it’s true for the Springboks, it was true for Tom Brady’s Patriots. And it’s true for business – CEOs should take a moment to pay attention to the dev team, CFOs shouldn’t forget that marketing are the ones bringing the clients, and COOs should always be trying to stack the bench with talent.
Shane Lowry emerged as the hero at Bethpage. And it was because what looked like a walkover victory morphed into a compelling contest late on Sunday afternoon, the Americans fighting back in compelling fashion. It was, in the end, pure box office entertainment. And, as I highlight the commercial forces that set up this thrilling finale, you’ll join me in a moment of compassion for American captain Keegan Bradley… a man who was always destined to trip over the final hurdle. His story comes next.
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