Golf fans convinced Rory McIlroy had no idea who megastar was during awkward encounter

Golf Fans Convinced Rory McIlroy Didn’t Recognize Tom Holland in Awkward Encounter

It appears that Rory McIlroy may not be a big fan of the Spider-Man or Captain America franchises. During a recent interaction, the world No. 3 golfer seemed unaware of actor Tom Holland’s celebrity status. The awkward exchange took place on the practice range at the BMW PGA Championship Celebrity Pro-Am in Wentworth, where the two crossed paths.

The incident occurred while McIlroy, 35, was focused on his preparations, reaching into his bag when Holland, known for his roles as Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, approached him. The 28-year-old actor greeted McIlroy politely, extending his hand and saying, “Hello mate, sorry, I’m Tom.” McIlroy hesitated momentarily before shaking his hand.

“Hi Tom, how you doing?” McIlroy responded, somewhat tentatively. Holland, visibly excited, replied, “It’s a pleasure.” The conversation remained short and a little uncomfortable. After McIlroy asked, “You alright?” Holland responded with, “Yeah good man, how are you?” McIlroy simply replied, “Good,” before both returned to practicing their shots.

Golf fans quickly picked up on the awkwardness of the exchange, speculating that McIlroy didn’t recognize Holland. One fan humorously suggested on social media, “Rory must be a DC guy – you know, Batman and Superman.” Another joked, “When you shake hands with Peter Parker and never know…” A third commented, “McIlroy clearly must not be a fan of the podcast.”

While McIlroy may have been unaware of Holland’s stardom, fellow golfer Tommy Fleetwood certainly made a connection with the actor during the event. Fleetwood played alongside Holland and his twin brothers, Harry and Sam, forming a winning team at the Pro-Am. The foursome secured an impressive combined score of 31 under par, thanks in part to Holland’s impressive golf skills, boasting a handicap of 2.9.

This wasn’t Holland’s first time participating in the event, as he had previously competed alongside golf legend and former Ryder Cup captain, Padraig Harrington. Meanwhile, McIlroy partnered with former Real Madrid and Tottenham star, Gareth Bale, who is a scratch golfer, and former England cricketer, Stuart Broad. Their team finished the Pro-Am at 24 under par.

As the tournament unfolded, the BMW PGA Championship, a marquee event on the DP World Tour, officially began. McIlroy started off strong, playing the first six holes at Wentworth at four under par, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling competition.

Though McIlroy’s encounter with Tom Holland may have been awkward, it certainly added a moment of humor to the prestigious event, with fans entertained by the unexpected meeting of two stars from different worlds.