Rory McIlroy's temper flared at the PGA Championship as he unleashed expletives at a spectator and had them removed from the course during the final stages of the tournament. The six-time major winner was playing the par-five 16th hole at Aronimink Golf Club on Sunday when his third shot landed in the bunker, prompting comments from the crowd that angered him.
Incident at the 16th Hole
McIlroy glared at the fan and delivered an expletive-laden response, instructing security to eject the individual. The remarks that provoked McIlroy were not captured on the broadcast, but his frustration was evident. The Northern Irishman was three strokes behind the leader at the time, and his failure to create a birdie chance ultimately denied him the opportunity to contend for the title, with Aaron Rai claiming his maiden major victory.
McIlroy's Frustration Throughout the Week
McIlroy had appeared exasperated for much of the week, expressing displeasure with the PGA of America's course setup. On Sunday, he endured a troublesome day at Aronimink, frequently finding himself out of position on scoreable holes. Starting the day at three under par, he opened his birdie tally at the second hole but then made 10 consecutive pars. Despite the lead remaining within reach, a bogey at the accessible par-four 13th proved a devastating blow to his prospects.
He responded with a birdie at the next hole, but by the time he reached the 16th, it was eagle-or-nothing territory. He failed to find the fairway, and his second shot again settled in the rough. He required all his skill to rescue a birdie, but when his pitch failed to crest the fringe and spun right into the bunker, his frustration boiled over, with comments from beyond the ropes provoking his fiery retort.
Contrast with Previous Praise for Crowd
The incident occurred just 24 hours after McIlroy had praised the crowd at Aronimink. He had been subjected to appalling abuse at the Ryder Cup in New York the previous year, but he insisted the atmosphere in Philadelphia was a world apart. 'Again, 103 out of 104 weeks, I get pretty good support everywhere I go,' he said. 'It's just that one week every four years, I guess it is, that most of the crowd are on the other side, and that's fine. If I were them, I'd be on the U.S. side, too. But no, I do, I feel like I get a lot of support anywhere I go, and I'm very fortunate and very grateful for that.'
Upcoming Break
McIlroy is set to step away from golf for a brief period, skipping The CJ Cup Byron Nelson tournament this weekend.
