Tag: Brian Martin

Report: Shane Lowry and longtime caddie Brian ‘Bo’ Martin to split after losing spark and chemistry

The split comes after a nearly five-year partnership.

In the midst of a year when Shane Lowry is gunning to make the European Ryder Cup team, he’s going to have a new looper on his bag.

Lowry and Brian “Bo” Martin had an amicable split last weekend, per a report from the Irish Independent. The duo teamed up in 2018, their biggest victory coming in the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, where Lowry cruised to a six-shot victory for his only major title.

The report states Martin and Lowry had lost their “spark” and “chemistry,” even pointing to an incident during the 2022 Masters where Lowry was visibly frustrated after he felt he was given bad advice.

Two weeks ago at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Lowry went into the final round tied for the lead but fired a 76 on Sunday, eventually falling by nine shots. Last week at the Dubai Desert Classic, he missed the cut, leading him and Martin to make the decision.

The Irish Independent reports Lowry will play five straight weeks on the PGA Tour beginning next week at the WM Phoenix Open and concluding at the Players Championship.

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Shane Lowry on his caddie’s sandals: ‘Looked like Jesus out there’ at BMW Championship

Before the final round of the BMW Championship, Shane Lowry posted a video of his caddie wearing Birkenstocks.

WILMINGTON, Del. – Shane Lowry may be the odd man out of finishing in the top 30 of the FedEx Cup points standings, but he never lost his sense of humor.

Before the final round of the BMW Championship, Lowry hopped on his social media and posted a video of his caddie Brian Martin wearing a pair of Birkenstock sandals, noting he played so poorly on the front nine on Saturday – Lowry shot 3-over 38 – “I got Jesus on the bag for the back.”

Lowry came home with three birdies on the inward nine to shoot even-par 71. Why the sandals for Martin?

Simple: blisters.

Funny enough, Lowry had bought him new shoes while he was home  Monday and brought them to the second playoff event this week.

“He loves those Jordan runners,” Lowry said. “They’re comfortable or whatever. … he just got really bad blisters.

“On the 9th I said, ‘Have you got your sandals with you, your Birkenstocks?’ and he did. So I said, ‘Why not wear them for the back nine?’ I mean, it’s dry, it’s fine, and they’re comfy, so yeah. Looked like Jesus out there.”

Lowry shot a final-round 68, but a bogey at 17 was costly. When he finished his round, he was projected to be on the right side of the top 30 but Adam Scott bumped him out. Lowry has never qualified for the Tour Championship, even in 2019 when he won the British Open. Lowry said it is hard to do for a player such as himself who splits time on the DP World Tour.

“It’s just so hard to do,” Lowry said. “Look, obviously Rory does every year and these guys, but Rory is Rory. I think throw five or six more events in my schedule and I’m guaranteed to be there next week. That’s the disappointing part of it. I feel like there’s a lot of things that didn’t go my way this season. I had a few chance to win tournaments that I didn’t get over the line, but all in all, it’s been a pretty good year without a win.”

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