Friendship as a Contributing Factor to Rory McIlroy's Masters Championship

The conclusion of the 2025 Masters for Rory McIlroy was historic, impressive, and incredibly emotional. We witnessed him best Justin Rose by sinking a clutch birdie in sudden death. The tears McIlroy finally released after years of near-misses and disappointment resonated with viewers worldwide. I smiled watching the tender embrace with his wife and the long, loving hug he shared with his daughter Poppy. But one additional moment made me pause and take notice: on his way to Butler Cabin, McIlroy encountered Shane Lowry, and their exchange radiated the joy, beauty, and love of true friendship. In fact, I believe this friendship might have been a crucial element in McIlroy's first major victory in eleven years and his first green jacket—a fitting shade among Ireland's legendary forty shades of green.

Rory and Shane have been professional golfers for a collective 34 years (Rory in 2007 and Shane in 2009). As written by Golf.com "Lowry and McIlroy's relationship was forged more than two decades ago on Ireland's junior golf circuit. McIlroy's star ascended faster, but Lowry, a dogged competitor, worked hard to keep up. As elite professionals, they've traveled the world together and battled as teammates in international team events." They are much more that competitors on the tour. They share a common homeland, stateside residence (Jupiter, FL) and connection. As mentioned in "Full Swing" Lowry said, "I feel like I'm good for him, but he's also really good for me." I didn't need to see their shared moment at the Masters to admit they do. Plenty has transpired in the past year to reveal that truth.

In addition to a shared victory in the 2023 Ryder Cup (Europe over US 16½-11½), the Irish duo won the 2024 Zurich Classic in New Orleans. As written in the PGA.com post, 

To win any PGA TOUR event is very cool, but to do it with one of your closest friends — we’ve known each other for a long, long time, probably like over 20 years,” McIlroy said. “To think about where we met and where we’ve come from, to be on this stage and do this together — really, really cool journey that we’ve been a part of.

Evidently, the night before the final round the Irishmen received a standing ovation when they "showed up at historic, creole French Quarter restaurant Arnaud’s on the eve of their final round at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event." And, you might have caught sight of the two of them the night of their victory as they showed up on stage at the tournament's after party to karaoke and sing Don't Stop Believin' with their fans. I swear I saw a performance of "Sweet Caroline" as well, but I can't seem to find it.

Shane said, “He’s getting old, but he still moves the needle a little bit,” Lowry joked as McIlroy chuckled. “Rory brings a crowd and people love him and we’ve gotten a lot of love in New Orleans. We’ve had just the best week.” 

Safe to say, these two enjoyed another good week in February 2025at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The Guardian reports, 

Rory McIlroy celebrated a hole-in-one on his way to a score of 66 in the opening round at California’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The 35-year-old Northern Irishman found the cup with a sand wedge on the par-three 15th hole at Spyglass Hill Golf Course and will now head into Friday’s second round two shots behind leader Russell Henley.

McIlroy’s was not the day’s only hole-in-one. Irishman Shane Lowry landed one of his own on the famous par-three seventh at Pebble Beach, with the ball landing short of the pin and rolling in. Lowry used social media site X to call it the “shot of my dreams."

The two found their way to the iconic tap room that evening where everyone in house was treated to a beverage of their choice by the Irishmen. #jealous!

In these instances, I see much of what Shasta Nelson—author, speaker and relationship expert names as the three relationship requirements in a healthy, close friendship. To illustrate the metric, she draws an equilateral triangle—with positivity at its base. Consistency and vulnerability come together at the apex. This is how she defines each side.

Positivity: The pleasant emotions we feel that makes the relationship rewarding and satisfying.
Enjoyable moments that characterize positivity include: love, trust, enjoyment, affection, enthusiasm, appreciation, silliness/fun, special, validation, happiness, excitement and hope.

Consistency: The repetition of time and behavior that makes the relationship feel reliable and safe.

Repetitive time together involves providing time and space, finding "excuses" to gather, showing the other the relationship is important to you, and so forth.

Vulnerability: The mutual sharing and listening that leaves both people feeling known and seen.

Understood as expressing the full spectrum of emotions from pride and joy to loss and failure. Can also be known though asking for help, apologizing, forgiving as well as initiating tough or challenging conversations. Vulnerability gives permission to be authentic. 

The Netflix golf reality series Full Swing, Season 3, Episode 2 entitle "Through Thick and Thin" demonstrates how Rory and Shane share a healthy and viable friendship. Rory admits, 

The tour can be a lonely place at times so to have a friend like Shane, who is always up for a laugh and always wants to do fun things—this year, more than any other year has really shown its importance to me 

I'd say the weeks that we are home, we probably see each other five times a week?! It's nice to have someone like that, to who you can pick up the phone and chat about anything—whether its about golf or stuff going on away from golf...

That's positivity, consistency and vulnerability in Full Swing ;-)

Shane added, "We've known each other probably 21 or 22 years. When you're Rory McIlroy who is the greatest player of our generation, people are not themselves around you. So you meet people and you hang out with people and they are not themselves. But, when I hang out with him, I'm just myself. I think I'm probably a breath of fresh air to his life at times where he can just get away and be himself and be normal..."

Shasta Nelson would describe Lowry and McIlroy as "relationally fit."

It was a joy to watch the Lowrys and McIlroys share the green at The Masters Par-3 contest. And hard not to love the way Shane's daughter picked up Poppy to congratulate her for putting out the hole. Perhaps all of this put Rory is a calm, clear headed state of mind for what was one of the more memorable Sunday at the Masters. The power of friendship is not to be underestimated. 

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Holding a trophy