USA Today via Reuters
Jun 18, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Rory McIlroy reacts after putting on the eighteenth green during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Jun 18, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Rory McIlroy reacts after putting on the eighteenth green during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
The US Open didn’t conclude well for Rory McIlroy. The former World No. 1 finished runner-up on the weekend, a solitary stroke behind the eventual winner, Wyndham Clark. However, to make matters worse, the Northern Irishman was accused of cheating in the aftermath of the final round.
The incident caused a massive debate around the issue, which included comments from Tiger Woods’ former coach, Hank Haney. But what exactly occurred at the 14th hole of the Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday, and how did fans react towards it?
Did Rory McIlroy cheat at the 2023 US Open?
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Ahead of a final-round showdown with joint-leaders Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark, many expected the accomplished McIlroy to reign supreme. Indeed, he was the only golfer with a major championship among the trio, let alone four.
Furthermore, Fowler’s poor outing left McIlroy with a solo battle against the in-form Clark. He didn’t disappoint, matching the American for every stroke. However, the pivotal moment arrived at the 14th hole, which put McIlroy’s challenge to bed.
via Imago
2023 Wells Fargo Championship: Second Round MAY 05 May 5, 2023: Rory McIlroy reacts to a missed birdie on the 8th green during the second round of the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, NC. Scott Kinser/Cal Media/Sipa USACredit Image: Scott Kinser/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA Charlotte Quail Hollow Club NC United States NOxUSExINxGERMANY PUBLICATIONxINxALGxARGxAUTxBRNxBRAxCANxCHIxCHNxCOLxECUxEGYxGRExINDxIRIxIRQxISRxJORxKUWxLIBxLBAxMLTxMEXxMARxOMAxPERxQATxKSAxSUIxSYRxTUNxTURxUAExUKxVENxYEMxONLY Copyright: xCalxSportxMediax Editorial use only
Indeed, the four-time major championship winner made a bogey on the hole, but how it unfolded makes for an interesting tale. A grim shot at the 612-yard, par-5 hole left his ball embedded between the sand bunker and the rough. It looked to be an arduous task to get a clean strike of the ball. Yet, McIlroy was given the relief of a free drop, much to the surprise of fans worldwide.
Rory McIlroy is a cheater.
He took an illegal drop at Dubai and won the tournament as a result. He took another illegal drop at LACC and finished with a solo 2nd finish as a result.
Almost any other player would have been penalized in both situations.
— LIV Golf Nation (@LIVGolfNation) June 20, 2023
What do the rules say under such circumstances? While McIlroy’s free drop was well within the jurisdiction due to the position of his ball, the golfer seemed to have forced the rules official into giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Fans were clearly not happy as they clamored with cheating accusations. Those discussions included Tiger Woods’ former coach, Hank Haney, who supported team McIlroy. Here’s a selection of such tweets:
Rory didn’t take a drop, he was given a drop https://t.co/9ZjaCFUvbi
— Hank Haney (@HankHaney) June 20, 2023
Fair enough. But he pulled the ball out, not the rules official, and then put the official in a very difficult position where she would have had to get in a confrontation with the "most popular" golfer in the game on the biggest stage. I don't buy that it was even embedded.
— LIV Golf Nation (@LIVGolfNation) June 20, 2023
Yeah, he didn't have to take it. Ethics in golf. He knows the rules.
— 🇮🇱 Bobbie Evans 🗡🛡 (@BobbieE20238239) June 20, 2023
Pretty simple, you hit it into this position, you either hit it out or take an unplayable lie and drop with penalty shot- not a free drop!
— Michael Dill (@Michael60281194) June 20, 2023
cheating is cheating ! In golf the player is the one that should show that he is above board in his game.
That was a BAD DROP !
And everybody watching knows it.— Joey Best (@joebesst2) June 20, 2023
Correct. But Patrick Reed is labeled a cheater and he was been given the drops too. I think at the very least the rules official should have been IN the bunker.
— Michael Thom (@mthom481) June 20, 2023
Others were left more confused with the constant chatter around the issue.
Genuine question: why was Rory given relief at US Open but Hovland & Conner’s were not at the PGA Championship? Aren’t all 3 scenarios the same; embedded ball on lip of bunker?
— ClearlyABurnerAcct (@ClearlyABrnr) June 20, 2023
This is not meant to be combative it’s a serious question. Why did he get a drop? Just wondering what rule was applied here.
— Tom Aubel (@aubelta) June 20, 2023
He was given a drop no doubt. Shouldn’t the drop been back from the embedded ball?
— JC Roberts (@jrcutter19_joe) June 20, 2023
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How did Rory McIlroy fare following his controversial free drop?
Despite the advantage of a free drop outside the bunker, McIlroy was unable to get up and down and finished with a bogey on the hole. It derailed his task of catching up with Clark, who made a birdie shortly after.
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With four holes to play and a deficit of three strokes, all hope looked lost for McIlroy. Yet, Clark stumbled at the last few holes with a couple of bogeys, but it didn’t take his maiden major championship triumph away from him.
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