SOUTHAMPTON, NEW YORK - JUNE 17: Shane Lowry of Ireland reacts during a practice round prior to the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 17, 2026 in Southampton, New York. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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From recreational golfers keen on staying active long into retirement to professionals coping with the cumulative effects of decades of wear and tear on their joints, mobility has long been one of the sport's most valuable commodities.

Steve Stricker, 58, underwent a right hip replacement in January and did not return to competition until this month after a torn muscle complicated his recovery. Ollie Schniederjans, meanwhile, underwent double hip surgery in 2022 and completed a remarkable comeback by defeating Bryson DeChambeau by four strokes at an Asian Tour event in India last year.

With demand for joint-replacement procedures expected to rise in tandem with an aging population, medical device company Stryker is turning to major champion Shane Lowry to help connect with patients and caregivers through a new education and awareness campaign that tees off this week at the Travelers at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut. The partnership, which also places Stryker’s logo on Shane’s bag, is rooted in Lowry’s experience supporting his father Brendan navigate hip and knee replacement surgeries, a story the company hopes will resonate with families going through a similar journey.

While in the past Stryker has partnered with golfers who had undergone joint replacement procedures themselves, former patient ambassadors include Fred Funk and Hal Sutton. The company elected take a different approach in choosing Lowry.

Rather than laser in on the patient story, Stryker decided to highlight the vital role caregivers play throughout the treatment and recovery process. Katherine Truppi, president of Stryker’s Joint Replacement division, said the company viewed that audience as both influential and often overlooked.

“We had wanted specifically this caregiver angle given the patient population and the demographic we are talking about,” she said. “When Shane came to our attention and his passion around his dad's own journey, and his ability to get back to his life, it was really appealing.”

Truppi believes Lowry’s experience helping his father navigate joint replacement surgery resonates because it mirrors what many families are experiencing as aging parents require more support.

“He represents what so many people are going through now in this sandwich generation when he's raising kids and caring for his parents,” Truppi said.

“The caregiver is often underrecognized in the role that they play in a patient’s journey of joint replacement,” she added. “There is research and data out there behind what someone's experience in recovery going through a procedure is like and that it's far better and more positive when there is a caregiver involved.”

Truppi said one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding joint replacement is how profoundly chronic joint pain can affect a person's quality of life, and on the flipside, how transformative restored mobility can be post-recovery.

“I think what is misunderstood is how much relief it can give you and what it means be able to get back to playing with grandchildren on the floor, getting back to golf, getting back to walking your dog. I think getting people back to mobility and back to what they love is so critical and can be misunderstood in the impact it has on someone’s mental wellbeing as they are living through that pain.”

For Lowry, Stryker’s campaign, which is set to include onsite activations at PGA Tour events, hits close to home.

Brendan Lowry, a postal worker by trade and renowned Gaelic footballer who helped Offaly win the 1982 All-Ireland Championship, began experiencing mobility issues years after his playing days were behind him. As the pain worsened, his son watched activities become increasingly difficult for his father.

“We used to play a lot of golf as kids growing up, me, my brother and my dad,” Lowry said. “When he got to a stage when he was struggling to get around the golf course that became tough.”

The mobility losses eventually affected Brendan's ability to follow his son's career in person.

“There are certain golf courses we play on tour that are quite difficult walks, especially for spectators,” Lowry said. “It had gotten to a stage where he'd have to leave after six holes or right after the front nine.”

But the challenges extended far beyond the confines of fairways and greens, gradually affecting more and more aspects of his daily life.

“There were a lot of things that he started to struggle with, even little things like bending down to put on his shoes in the morning became more and more difficult as time went on,” Lowry said. “I think more-so when the simpler things became difficult that's when he really needed to do something about it.”

After seeking advice and meeting with doctors, the decision ultimately came down to restoring the quality of life his father had lost.

“He really wanted to get back to doing the things that he loved and this is what he needed to do to do that,” Lowry said. “He knew what his goal was and he knew what he needed to do to do that, and that ultimately was surgery.”

The results have been transformative. Lowry said his father underwent a hip replacement roughly 12 years ago and a knee replacement about three years ago.

“I feel like he was missing out on a lot of things and then when he started to do those things again you could see the joy that brings to someone is pretty cool,” Lowry said.

Nowadays, Brendan is a regular fixture in the gallery when Lowry plays tournaments

“He was just at the U.S. Open with me last week,” Lowry said. “He comes to maybe at least 10 or 12 tournaments a year, travels a lot. He has young grandkids that live across the street from him. He’s always been a very active, fit man, and he’s happy to be back on his feet and doing things.”