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?

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.

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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.

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.

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:

Others were left more confused with the constant chatter around the issue.

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.

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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