Rory McIlroy reveals fan heckle during PGA Tour event that cracked him up

PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy revealed he was amused by a heckle from a fan during the opening round of the RBC Canadian Open. The 35-year-old Northern Irishman, who was recovering from a night out celebrating his caddie Harry Diamond’s birthday, had a bit of a slow start at Hamilton Golf & Country Club on Thursday. He notched 10 pars in a row before gaining momentum on the back nine to finish with a score of four-under 66.

McIlroy’s round included an adventure on the 17th hole where his tee shot veered right and landed in the hospitality area. “Some guy yelled out, ‘You need a wrist band to get in here’,” McIlroy shared with reporters, adding that it made him laugh. Despite the disruption, he managed to escape the hole with a par.

Earlier in the week, McIlroy spoke out about the tragic suicide of fellow golfer Grayson Murray, urging kindness in its aftermath. He also expressed his biggest regret about the LIV Golf saga, indicating his desire to focus solely on his game going forward. With a busy schedule ahead, including the U.S. Open and the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon, McIlroy is determined to maintain his form. “I’ve played a lot of golf this year…I’ve started to play my way into form and I’ve played well the last few weeks. Hopefully, I can just keep that going,” he said.