Rory McIlroy calls for booze limits at golf events after fan repeatedly yells wife's name in distraction bid
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Loading... - Ken Ma
- 19 Mar 2021
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Rory McIlroy has called for a booze ban on American courses after being targeted by a fan who had been drinking.
McIlroy battled through round three of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida, shooting a sparkling 67.
But he then complained about a supporter who started getting personal while trying to put him off.
McIlroy said: “There was one guy out there who kept yelling my wife’s name. I was going to go over and have a chat with him.
“I don’t know, I think it’s gotten a little much, to be honest.
“I think that they need to limit the alcohol sales on the course, or they need to do something, because every week it seems like guys are complaining about it more.
“I know that people want to come and enjoy themselves and whatever, and I’m all for that, but sometimes when the comments get personal and people get a little bit rowdy it can get a little much.
“It used to be like you bring beers on to the course or buy beers, but not liquor. And now it seems like everyone’s walking around with a cocktail or whatever.
“So I don’t know whether it’s just go back to letting people walk around with beers in their hand, that’s fine, but, I don’t know.”
The Waste Management Phoenix Open is renowned for its raucous atmosphere, something that now seems to have caught on at other events.
McIlroy added: “A lot of tournaments see how successful Phoenix is and they want to try to replicate that, which is great, it’s great for the tournament, it’s great for us.
“But golf is different than a football game and there’s etiquette involved and you don’t want it like you don’t want people to be put off from bringing their kids when people are shouting stuff out. You want people to enjoy themselves.”
McIlroy is only the latest golfer to complain about hecklers. In February’s Honda Classic Justin Thomas had a spectator removed from the course after he shouted for his ball to land in the bunker.
Thomas, who ended up winning the tournament, said: “I don’t want to kick someone out just to kick them out. It’s just so inappropriate. We’re out here trying to win a golf tournament.”
