The $ 20,000,000 FedEx St. Jude Championship came to an exhilarating end on Sunday. While Lucas Glover claimed victory and garnered widespread attention, there was a golfer who experienced a disheartening situation at TPC Southwind. After the event concluded, Rory McIlroy recounted the incident that occurred during the third round of the tournament.

It was on the 14th hole that tensions noticeably escalated for him and his supporters. Let’s dive deeper into it and find out what transpired.

Rory McIlroy reveals whose presence cost him his win

McIlroy, who finished at T3 in the first event of the FedEx playoffs, encountered a challenging scenario on the 14th hole during the third round. It was a 3-par hole, and lo and behold, his tee shot landed in the water. In an interview with journalist Amanda Renner, the 23-time PGA Tour winner revealed the real reason behind it.

Amanda seized the opportunity to inquire about the former golfer Colt Knost’s presence as he watched the Northern Irishman’s ball land in the water. In a lighthearted manner, the four-time major winner said that he held Colt accountable for the mishap. “I blame Colt for that. He was making me laugh from the tee box. 

They both giggle even as Amanda says, “It’s always Colt’s fault.” On Monday, Golf on CBS shared a video on Twitter (now X), with the caption, “Confirmed, @McIlroyRory’s water ball on No.14 was all @ColtKnost’s fault .”

Going back to the 14th hole action, McIlroy incurred a one-stroke penalty after his ball went into the water. It appeared he might lose at least a stroke, but his brilliance came to his rescue. The golfer unleashed a 25-30 yard par putt to salvage what could have been a totally disastrous hole for him. 

McIlroy misses by flukes at the FedEx St. Jude Championship

The Irishman had a strong start in his opening round. However, things turned upside down on the 7th and 8th holes followed by the 11th hole as McIlroy picked up three bogeys. Nevertheless, he was able to end the round with a 3-under-par 67.

Also Read: ‘Absolutely Love That’: FedEx St. Jude Championship Flaunts Why PGA Tour’s $20M Event Is More Than Just a Mere Competition

He tried to excel in his second and third rounds but ended with a 4-under-par 66 and a 2-under-par 68 respectively. In the final round, McIlroy really upped the ante and came up with his best performance with a 5-under 65. But it came too late in the day as he fell one short of a playoff appearance with eventual winner Lucas Glover and Patrick Cantlay. 

It would appear the Northern Irishman gave himself a mountain to climb after his ill-fated mistake. While he could’ve been just a few good shots from reclaiming the lead, his competitors just had far better rounds than the 34-year-old. We’re all glad he sees the humor in the blunder and we hope Colt Knost continues to catch strays from his buddy, McIlroy, and the golfing community that holds him so dear.

What is your take on McIlroy’s shot landing in the water? Let us know in the comments below.

Watch The Story: “Are you kidding me”: PGA Pro’s insane shot of a lifetime manifestation at the $1m event tongue-tied the community