Shane Lowry got his 2023 Ryder Cup off to a flying start in the morning foursomes, as he and Sepp Straka got the better of Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa 2&1.
Team Europe as a whole, in fact, got off to an historically good start, winning all four matches of the Friday morning session for the first time in Ryder Cup history.
A "fiery" Lowry was ecstatic to get his first point of the weekend on the board, but he was nonetheless left on the sidelines for the afternoon session of foursomes, as a dramatic afternoon of golf unfolded in Rome.
Midway through the afternoon's play, it seemed as though the momentum might have been swaying across to the United States, with team US briefly taking the lead in three of the four foursomes matches.
The tide would swing yet again, however, with the Europeans yet again gaining the upper hand and halving two games with sensational last gasp putts from Viktor Hovland and Jon Rahm - and Shane Lowry stole the show with his celebrations after Hovland's putt.
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Shane Lowry celebrates immense Hovland putt with style
After 13 holes, Viktor Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton found themselves two down against Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, but managed to fight their way back into contention coming into the final hole.
At the 18th, Hovland had a tricky sloping putt to birdie the hole and tie the match - which he did in exquisite style.
VIKTOR HOVLAND!!! 🇳🇴🇪🇺#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/KCe0pWZn5Y
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 29, 2023
However, the wide angle which the TV directors cut to revealed the true highlight of Viktor Hovland's epic levelling putt, as Shane Lowry burst into shot energetically fist bumping and riling up the elated European crowd.
Team Europe tweeted a zoomed-in version of the clip, showcasing the trademark energy Shane Lowry displays on Ryder Cup weekend.
Spot @ShaneLowryGolf 😂☘️#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/mV97HOMF9A
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 29, 2023
Here's a closer look on at how the celebrations unfolded.
.@ShaneLowryGolf is one of us 🇪🇺💪#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/BI9kdGlb6L
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 29, 2023
The sensational celebrations from Shane Lowry followed on from a fitting interview with BBC Sport earlier today where he admitted he had struggled to keep his emotions in check with the energy of Ryder Cup weekend in full swing:
I enjoyed myself, it's hard - that's just me! I stress to the lads and to the rookies this week to go out there and be yourselves.
That's Shane Lowry out there!
Hovland's heroics were usurped mere moments later, as Spaniard Jon Rahm saved another half point for Europe in sensational style with a brilliant eagle at the 18th, as he and Nicolai Hojgaard fought back against Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka.
Unsurprisingly, Lowry went bananas when Rahm's second eagle in three holes dropped.
The angle everyone wants to see of THAT @JonRahmpga putt 👀#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/Tp1b80uH9x
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 29, 2023
For a moment on Friday afternoon, it had seemed as though a red wave had taken over the Ryder Cup - but Europe will now indeed go into the weekend with a decisive lead, after their morning heroics at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.
The Ryder Cup. You just can't beat it.
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