Rory McIlroy Embarrassed Himself By Stealing Phone From Heckler

I’ve defended Rory McIlroy so much over time.

He was put in a tricky spot with the PGA Tour-LIV saga—even when he has taken 180-degree opinion activates golf’s divide, I’ve typically accepted that the state of affairs is difficult and his intentions are real (relative to his friends, at the least). I respect that he has been keen to talk his thoughts and be sincere with media.

Having stated that, Rory has had a powerful week on the Gamers Championship.

Issues bought off to a clumsy begin throughout his pre-tournament press convention. Rory, who is leading the charge with TGL, mainly scoffed on the concept of watching YouTube golf.

“I’m not of that technology,” McIlroy stated. “I’d a lot quite watch this golf event on Saturday and Sunday than watch YouTube golf.”

OK, that’s high-quality. McIlroy is attempting to champion a very unserious leisure league that’s borrowing quite a lot of ideas from YouTube golf, a platform that’s in all probability rising the sport greater than Rory is at this level—however I respect that he likes pure aggressive golf extra.

If I had been him, I might have thrown slightly extra help behind YouTube golf there. Nevertheless it’s not an enormous deal.

Then McIlroy gave one other uncomfortable however cheap quote about how he would by no means play senior tour golf, saying “one thing has gone terribly improper” if he’s nonetheless competing at that age.

Once more, it’s high-quality. It’s slightly bizarre Rory is giving such a powerful quote about hit-and-giggle golf that wouldn’t occur for an additional 15 years. I’m undecided if he supposed this, nevertheless it got here off slightly dismissive—like his golf is extra transactional and business-like versus a ardour he’s following.

Apparently he already is aware of he received’t be fascinated about taking part in enjoyable golf at that age. I’ve no concern with that. It’s his life.

I simply convey that as much as present he was clearly within the mindset of letting issues rip this week in Florida.

That could be a good factor on the entire—nevertheless it crossed the road right into a actual embarrassment throughout Tuesday’s follow spherical.

The heckler heard ’around the world

On Tuesday afternoon, McIlroy was teeing off on the daunting 18th gap.

We’re speaking about follow right here (Allen Iverson voice), so the vibe is chill. McIlroy pulled his tee shot into the water. Not ideally suited, nevertheless it additionally didn’t depend—it’s only a follow spherical.

That is the place the story will get attention-grabbing. Standing close to the tee was Luke Potter, a College of Texas golfer who had simply received a close-by faculty event. Potter isn’t some random hack. He’s the No. 60 participant within the World Beginner Golf Rating and has respectable aspirations of taking part in skilled golf.

Potter, standing subsequent to one among his teammates, determined to heckle Rory.

“Identical to the 2011 Masters,” Potter stated, referencing McIlroy’s painful Sunday meltdown at Augusta.

It was loud sufficient for McIlroy to listen to. And he was undoubtedly offended sufficient to make a stand.

He walked towards Potter and his teammate, reached his arm throughout the rope line and stated to Potter’s teammate, “Can I see your cellphone?”

Frozen in shock, the child let McIlroy take his cellphone. And away Rory went with the cellphone.

The youngsters had been escorted off property shortly after that. The cellphone was returned.

The incident was caught on video, so now we have an excellent view of Rory stealing the cellphone—I imply, that’s what I might name it in that second, even when it was returned.

That video has now gone viral, even extending into some nationwide information shops.

Potter later apologized to McIlroy and Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. He has taken quite a lot of warmth for heckling the world’s No. 2 golfer.

“Look, I simply made a mistake, and I take possession for it,” Potter stated.

Potter’s faculty coach, John Fields, informed Golf.com that it was an embarrasing second for his program.

“As regards to our College of Texas program, I imply it’s an embarrassing second. It’s significantly delicate to me as a result of our program is constructed on respect for the sport, and I might inform you that we coach 18- to 22-year-olds on a standard foundation and so they don’t all the time make the correct name, and that’s my duty as a coach and after they do make a mistake it’s a studying second.”

For Rory’s half, he has averted the state of affairs because it occurred. After being requested twice in his Thursday interview about taking the cellphone, McIlroy gave two non-answers and went on his manner.

McIlroy is comfortable as hell

Two issues are true on the identical time right here.

Given his place as an aspiring professional golfer, Potter in all probability shouldn’t have heckled McIlroy.

It wasn’t a wise transfer for somebody in his place. Would he wish to be heckled in a few years if he’s a Tour rookie? No. And I’m certain he regrets it.

However I’m taking a look at this extra from Rory’s perspective.

You’re a skilled athlete who performs golf everywhere in the world. You’re 35 years previous and have a child.

You’re lauded as a self-aware, well-read, mature individual.

It’s baked into skilled golf that persons are going to say silly issues. These are leisure occasions the place alcohol is flowing. All the level {of professional} golf is to be an attention-grabbing product that followers take pleasure in. With out that aspect, there is no such thing as a PGA Tour.

Is it proper that individuals heckle? No, and followers appear to get bolder yearly with what they’re keen to say. Golf isn’t performed in a soccer stadium stuffed with white noise the place gamers can barely hear followers within the entrance row. There needs to be a baseline of decorum at a event.

The heckling isn’t good, nevertheless it’s additionally anticipated. This can be a skilled sporting occasion.

Rory has to be larger than some younger child shouting a reasonably delicate heckle at him. This wasn’t even a barb that crossed the road as a private insult—it’s simply the equal of claiming “you suck” to any skilled athlete.

To me, it is a comfortable transfer. And I believe when you have a look at Rory’s historical past, he’s not significantly advanced within the thick pores and skin division.

Rory getting butt-hurt is exponentially extra embarrassing than some child who yelled a silly remark to make his buddy snigger.

After which he has the chance to come clean with his mistake after Thursday’s spherical. As an alternative, Rory offers a “subsequent query” reply.

Scottie Scheffler literally got arrested for no reason and acted manner cooler than this.

What do you suppose? Let me know under within the feedback.

High Picture Caption: Rory McIlroy tees off on Thursday in the course of the Gamers Championship. (GETTY IMAGES/Richard Heathcote)

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