World No.2 Rory McIlroy encountered a raucous crowd during the third round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania. The Northern Irishman, playing alongside Brooks Koepka, drew a large following after Bryson DeChambeau missed the cut. Fans were vocal throughout the round, with one spectator making a remark about McIlroy's Irish accent.
Heckling and Chants
As McIlroy and Koepka navigated the course, the crowd engaged in various forms of heckling. On the 11th hole, after the pair allowed another group to play through, fans began murmuring, "Where's Rory?" When he emerged, some supporters cheered, while others attempted to provoke him. One fan shouted, "Are the pins easier today, Rory? Any complaints?" referencing McIlroy's earlier comments on pin placements. Later, a small group chanted "USA, USA!" as McIlroy teed off on the 12th hole.
A particularly tense moment occurred when a spectator remarked, "I can hear your Irish accent," leading to a police officer intervening to quieten the crowd. Despite the distractions, McIlroy remained composed, registering a birdie on the 11th hole and finishing the day at three under par, three strokes off the lead.
McIlroy's Response
When asked if the crowd noise affected his game, McIlroy responded with a firm "no." He added, "103 out of 104 weeks, I get pretty good support everywhere I go. It's just that one week every four years that most of the crowd are on the other side, and that's fine. If I were them, I'd be on the US side, too."
Tournament Context
McIlroy opened the tournament with a four-over-par 74, tying for 105th place. However, he rebounded with strong rounds to sit at three under par, back in contention for his first PGA Championship win since 2014. Koepka, a three-time PGA champion, is one under par and tied for 23rd. The pair appeared unbothered by the gallery, with both finishing their rounds in the top 25.
The crowd's behaviour echoed the patriotic chanting that greeted McIlroy during the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, where he was part of the victorious European team. Despite the heckling, McIlroy expressed gratitude for the support he receives elsewhere, stating, "I feel like I get a lot of support anywhere I go, and I'm very fortunate and very grateful for that."
