Matt Fitzpatrick drops sly Rory McIlroy remark just weeks after snapping at rules official

Fitzpatrick Jokes at PGA Tour’s Expense After McIlroy’s Club Head Mishap at BMW PGA Championship

English golfer Matt Fitzpatrick couldn’t resist taking a playful jab at the PGA Tour on Thursday after witnessing an unfortunate incident involving Rory McIlroy at the BMW PGA Championship.

During the opening round at Wentworth, McIlroy experienced a bizarre and rare equipment malfunction. As he lined up for his shot on the par-five ninth hole, the head of his driver unexpectedly flew off mid-swing, soaring down the fairway. While the unusual mishap could have thrown off any player, McIlroy’s shot miraculously landed within 10 feet of the pin, despite the club’s head detaching in the process.

McIlroy himself was surprised by the outcome, acknowledging that such a thing had never happened to him before. “It was a bit of a weird feeling,” McIlroy admitted after the round. “I hit the ball and obviously you’re expecting the weight of the club to pull through, and suddenly there was nothing there. Thankfully the ball went where I wanted it to. It could have been a lot worse, but luckily I got the club repaired and was able to use it again by the 16th hole.”

However, it wasn’t just McIlroy’s near-miss that caught attention; Fitzpatrick seized the opportunity to poke fun at the situation. The 2022 US Open champion took to social media, referencing his own unfortunate driver issue earlier in the season to make a sly dig at the PGA Tour’s rules.

Back in August, Fitzpatrick had been involved in a controversy at the BMW Championship in Illinois, where officials denied him the chance to replace a cracked driver, claiming that the damage was ‘insufficient’. Fitzpatrick was visibly frustrated with the ruling, branding it “an absolute disgrace.” He later finished tied for 28th at the event but clearly hadn’t forgotten the ordeal.

When Fitzpatrick saw the video of McIlroy’s driver incident, he couldn’t help but comment. In a tweet on the platform X (formerly known as Twitter), he joked, “Not sure that’s significant enough damage to be replaced… @PGATOUR,” followed by a crying laughing emoji. The cheeky remark was clearly a light-hearted reference to his own earlier frustration and aimed at highlighting the inconsistency in the Tour’s equipment rules.

Despite the drama with his club, McIlroy managed to maintain focus, putting together an impressive round of five-under-par 67, which left him in fourth place at the close of the day, just two shots behind leader Matthew Baldwin. This strong performance came after a disappointing near-miss at the Irish Open the previous weekend, where McIlroy had been on the verge of securing his first professional win on home soil, only to be overtaken by Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard, who closed with three consecutive birdies to snatch the title.

McIlroy, determined to bounce back after the heartbreak in Ireland, delivered a solid performance at Wentworth, setting himself up as a strong contender for the title at the prestigious BMW PGA Championship. He remains one of the top favorites for victory, given his consistent form in recent weeks, including finishing second, ninth, and 11th in his last three tournaments.

Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick’s struggles on the course continued. The Sheffield-born golfer finished his opening round at even-par, leaving him tied for 75th at the end of the day. The 29-year-old has found it difficult to regain his best form recently, with his last seven tournaments yielding no top-10 finishes. Currently ranked 28th in the world, Fitzpatrick had reached a career-high of sixth earlier in 2023, following his major win at the US Open in 2022. However, recent results have shown a dip in form, and he is not expected to be among the leading contenders for this week’s title at Wentworth.

Despite his struggles, Fitzpatrick’s playful attitude on social media demonstrated that he hasn’t lost his sense of humor, even during challenging times. For McIlroy, though, the focus remains firmly on chasing victory at the BMW PGA Championship, as he seeks to build momentum ahead of the Ryder Cup and finish the season on a high note.

With two more rounds to go at Wentworth, all eyes will be on McIlroy as he attempts to add another significant title to his already glittering career. Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, will hope to find some of his best form over the weekend and at least put in a respectable showing.

As the tournament progresses, fans will be eager to see if McIlroy’s luck holds, and whether Fitzpatrick can improve his standing on the leaderboard. Either way, the lighthearted banter between the two stars has added an extra layer of entertainment to what is already done of the most prestigious events on the European golfing