Rory McIlroy lost his cool during the final round of the PGA Championship on Sunday after a fan shouted during his backswing at Aronimink Golf Club. The Northern Irish golfer was lining up a delicate chip shot on the par five 16th hole when the noise came from the crowd. The distraction caused Rory McIlroy to mishit the shot into a bunker, and he immediately turned around in anger. Video from the course showed Rory McIlroy shouting “shut the f*** up” toward the fan before pointing him out to nearby marshals. It was not clear what exactly the spectator said, but the comment clearly frustrated the two-time PGA champion during a difficult day on the course.The moment came only months after Rory McIlroy and Team Europe faced heavy abuse from sections of the crowd during the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York last September. During that tournament, some American fans shouted personal insults at Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica. Reports from multiple outlets at the time said fans used offensive language, mocked his private life, and even threw a drink that hit Erica during the tense event.Despite those ugly scenes, Rory McIlroy helped Europe secure its first away Ryder Cup victory since 2012. Still, the latest incident at the PGA Championship showed how crowd behavior continues to test players in high-pressure moments.
Rory McIlroy confronts fans again during frustrating PGA Championship final round
This was not the first time during the PGA Championship that Rory McIlroy had issues with spectators. Earlier in the week, during Thursday’s opening round, he turned around and spoke to a group of fans near the 14th tee and 13th green after hearing noises during his swing.“Just do it after we hit,” Rory McIlroy told the group, asking them to stay quiet while players were taking shots.The tournament itself also turned into a disappointing week for the world-famous golfer. Rory McIlroy struggled to keep pace with the leaders during the final round and eventually finished five shots behind champion Aaron Rai.The frustration had already been building earlier in the tournament. After his opening round, Rory McIlroy bluntly described his performance as “s***” while speaking to reporters. He also dealt with a physical issue during the week after developing a blister on his toe, which forced him to pull out of a practice session.Even with the difficult finish, Rory McIlroy remained one of the biggest talking points of the PGA Championship because of his emotional exchange with fans. The incident once again raised questions about crowd behavior in golf and how far spectators should go during major tournaments.
