“Shut the…”: Rory McIlroy snaps at spectator at Genesis Invitational

How often do we see golf star Rory McIlroy lose his cool? Not very often. But it did happen at the Genesis Invitational. McIlroy was competing at Riviera Country Club, a course that may bring back unpleasant memories. Last September, he was involved in a heated exchange with a spectator, an incident he would likely prefer to forget. He was also part of a crowd confrontation while defending his wife at the 2025 Ryder Cup.

Rory McIlroy loses his cool with spectator

McIlroy did not have a strong outing at the 2025 Genesis Invitational, and a confrontation with a spectator only added to his frustration. The incident occurred during the final round when McIlroy missed a 10-foot putt on the third hole. After the miss, a spectator made a remark about his caddie, Harry Diamond, a comment that did not sit well with McIlroy.

“Shut the f*** up,” McIlroy replied, according to multiple reports from the event in California.

McIlroy shares a close bond with Diamond and clearly did not appreciate anyone blaming his caddie for his own performance. Diamond was a talented golfer in his own right and even competed in the Irish Open before becoming McIlroy’s caddie in 2017. The two are childhood friends and have maintained a strong relationship over the years.

Following the incident, Hank Haney, former coach of Tiger Woods, told Mirror, “If Steve Williams was Rory’s caddie, I can promise you he would have never hit a perfect flighted 7-iron that rolled over the green on 15 into a terrible lie,” Haney said.

“Because he would have hit an 8-iron and sent it straight up in the air and held the green. Wrong club, wrong shot, bad plan,” he added.

Latest updates from Genesis Invitational

In the ongoing Genesis Invitational, Jacob Bridgeman surged toward what could be his first PGA Tour title. He carded an impressive seven-under-par 64 to take a six-stroke lead over McIlroy heading into the final round.

McIlroy shot a two-under 69, recording three birdies and one bogey for a total of 200. His struggles were highlighted at the par-five 17th, where he reached the green in two but missed a four-and-a-half-foot birdie putt.

“The greens got really fast there at the end of the day. You're grinding over three-footers and all of a sudden you get one that you think you can be a bit more aggressive with, and if you hit it a little too hard… I found the greens really, really difficult today,” McIlroy told AFP.

“I’m hitting the ball well. If I can keep driving it like that, putting the ball in the fairway, just giving myself chances and go from there, that’s all I can really do,” he added.

McIlroy was one stroke ahead of South African golfer Aldrich Potgieter. McIlroy said he plans to get off to a fast start in the final round.

Also read: Why didn’t Rory McIlroy celebrate immediately after his Masters victory? He reveals the complex emotions behind the win

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