Shane Lowry Splits from Caddie and Turns to Old Ally Dermot Byrne for Travelers Championship Comeback
Shane Lowry has parted ways with caddie Darren Reynolds in the wake of a missed cut at the US Open and will carry the bag of former long-term bagman Dermot Byrne at the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands — a significant change in the Clara man's support team as he seeks to rediscover the form that made him one of the most compelling players on the PGA Tour in recent seasons.
Background
The relationship between a professional golfer and his caddie is one of the most important partnerships in sport. A good caddie is not merely a bag carrier — he is a course manager, a psychologist, a strategist, and a trusted confidant who can make the difference between a round that falls apart under pressure and one that holds together when it matters most. The decision to change caddies is never taken lightly, and when it happens, it invariably signals that something in the partnership has not been working.
Shane Lowry's career has been defined by moments of extraordinary brilliance — most notably his dominant victory at the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, where he won by six shots in front of a home crowd that will never forget the scenes of that Sunday afternoon. Since that triumph, Lowry has remained a consistent presence in the upper reaches of the world rankings, with multiple PGA Tour victories and a reputation as one of the most entertaining and authentic personalities in professional golf.
Dermot Byrne caddied for Lowry for the first decade of his professional career, a period that included his breakthrough on the European Tour and his early PGA Tour success. The two men developed a close working relationship built on mutual trust and a shared understanding of Lowry's game. Byrne most recently worked with Leona Maguire, the Cavan golfer who has established herself as one of the leading players on the LPGA Tour.
Key Developments
The split with Reynolds was confirmed on 24 June 2026, following Lowry's missed cut at the US Open — a disappointing result that came at a time when the Offaly man had been hoping to build momentum ahead of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in July. The missed cut was not an isolated poor performance, but it appears to have been the catalyst for a decision that had perhaps been building for some time.
Lowry has indicated that the arrangement with Byrne is for the Travelers Championship specifically, while he takes time to consider his options for a permanent caddie appointment. The reunion with Byrne is a pragmatic choice — a familiar face and a trusted pair of hands at a moment when Lowry needs stability and confidence rather than the disruption of working with someone new.
In a separate development, Lowry has also announced a multi-year partnership with medical technology company Stryker — a commercial arrangement that reflects his continued standing as one of the most marketable players in the game. The partnership will see Lowry represent Stryker at events and in promotional activities, adding to a portfolio of commercial relationships that includes equipment and apparel deals.
Why It Matters
The caddie change comes at a critical juncture in Lowry's season. The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale — the fourth and final major of the year — is the tournament that Lowry, as a links specialist and a former Open champion, will regard as his best opportunity for major glory in 2026. His preparation for Birkdale will be shaped by his performances in the weeks leading up to it, and the Travelers Championship is an important opportunity to find form and confidence.
Rory McIlroy, by contrast, has opted to skip the Travelers Championship entirely, choosing instead to prepare for the Open by playing links golf in Ireland and Scotland. The contrasting approaches of Ireland's two leading male golfers reflect different assessments of what each player needs at this stage of the season — Lowry seeking competitive rounds to rebuild confidence, McIlroy prioritising course-specific preparation for the major he most wants to win.
The caddie change also raises questions about the dynamics of Lowry's team more broadly. Professional golf at the highest level is a team sport in many respects, and the support structure around a player — caddie, coach, manager, fitness trainer — needs to function as a cohesive unit. A change in one element of that structure can have ripple effects across the whole.
Local Impact
In Clara, County Offaly, and across the Irish golfing community, Lowry's performances are followed with intense interest. The 2019 Open victory at Portrush remains one of the defining moments in Irish sporting history, and the expectation that Lowry can add to his major tally is a source of both pride and pressure. His decision to reunite with Byrne will be seen by many Irish golf fans as a positive step — a return to a partnership that worked well and that might help him rediscover the form that made him a major champion.
The Travelers Championship, played at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut, is a well-regarded PGA Tour event with a strong field. A good performance there would provide a significant confidence boost ahead of Birkdale and would demonstrate that the caddie change has had the desired effect.
What's Next
The Travelers Championship tees off on 26 June 2026, with Lowry expected to be among the featured groups given his world ranking and the interest in his caddie change. The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale follows in mid-July, and Lowry's performance at the Travelers will be closely watched as an indicator of his readiness for the major. A decision on a permanent caddie appointment is expected before the end of the summer, with several experienced caddies understood to be in contention for the role.
