OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Shane Lowry had spent 32 holes being battered by Oakmont Country Club.
Then he made a mistake that couldn't be blamed on the course.
“Probably one of the stupidest things I've ever done,” he said.
Lowry was penalized a stroke Friday at the U.S. Open after he picked up his ball on the 14th green without marking it. The penalty stroke gave him a double bogey on the hole on his way to finishing at 17 over par for the tournament.
“I picked the ball up, had the ball in my hand, turned around to Darren (Reynolds, his caddie),” Lowry said. “He basically said to me, ‘What are you doing?’”
If nothing else, the gaffe gave Lowry something to laugh about during — and after — an otherwise miserable round. He shot 79 in the first round, even after holing out from 160 yards for an eagle on the par-4 third. He was one stroke better Friday.
Under Rule 14.1, it’s a one-stroke penalty for lifting the ball before first marking the spot. After realizing what he'd done, he and his playing partners, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose, laughed, then Lowry asked a rules official what to do.
“Just put it back where it was?” he said.
He did, then barely missed a 55-footer that would have been for bogey, including the penalty.
Lowry played in the final group the last time the U.S. Open was at Oakmont in 2016. This time, he was already well on his way to missing the cut, which may have explained his carelessness on 14.
“I put it back down and marked it, and played on. I knew I was going to get penalized. I didn’t know whether it was going to be one or two,” Lowry said. “Maybe my mind was somewhere else.”
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Shane Lowry, of Ireland, reacts to his shot on the second hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Shane Lowry, of Ireland, tees off on the second hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Alex Ovechkin said he wants a new two-year contract from the Washington Capitals.
He was probably joking.
Then again, nothing about Ovechkin's future is all that clear right now after the NHL's career goal-scoring leader finished his 21st season Tuesday. Fans — and even opponents — treated the past few games like they could be his last, but Ovechkin hasn't yet closed the door on returning.
This was the final season of his current contract with the Capitals. When he noted Thursday — in a longer-than-usual session with reporters — that he still needs to speak with coach Spencer Carbery and general manager Chris Patrick, he was asked what he wanted to hear from Patrick about the team's future.
“Two more years," he said, drawing a laugh. "This is the contract. Sign it.”
It would certainly be a surprise if the 40-year-old Ovechkin received that kind of deal. The bigger question is whether he'll keep playing in the NHL at all. He said he'll make that decision based on health, family and the team's outlook for next season.
The Capitals wrapped up their season with a win at Columbus on Tuesday. They had 95 points, which would have tied for the lead in the Pacific Division but left them three points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Young players like Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson have emerged for Washington, and despite a disappointing season, the team seems decently positioned whether Ovechkin retires or comes back.
If he does return, the price would be intriguing after he carried a cap hit of $9.5 million a year on his previous deal. He scored a team-high 32 goals and played all 82 games this season, remarkable numbers for a player his age. But his famous shot from the left circle wasn't the weapon it used to be — he had only five goals on 86 shots on the power play — and his age shows in his two-way game.
Ovechkin was asked if playing elsewhere in the NHL was a possibility.
“I’m a free agent," he said.
When pressed on whether he could see himself somewhere else in the league after spending his whole career so far with the Capitals, he said: “Probably not, no.”
There's been speculation about Ovechkin going back at some point to play in his native Russia, but he said he needs to decide his NHL future first.
“I’m pretty sure it’s not my last game — I hope it’s not my last game, against Columbus. I have to make a decision to see where we’re at — the team, family," Ovechkin said. “Obviously, family are going to support me, like my wife and kids. Kids are already asking, ‘Dad, are you staying or not?’"
And what's his response?
“I tell them, ‘We’ll see,'” he said. ”They want me to come back because they love the city, they love the team, they love the boys.”
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) acknowledges fans as he leaves the ice after the Capitals defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
