Rory McIlroy Curses Out Heckler After Missed Shot in Final Round of PGA Championship

Skyler CarusoTue, May 19, 2026 at 3:26 PM UTC

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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland during the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 17, 2026.
Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty -

Rory McIlroy lashed out at a heckler during the final round of the PGA Championship on Sunday, May 17

The two-time Masters champion cursed at an unruly fan who yelled out to him after he hit a poor shot into a bunker on the 16th hole

McIlroy has a history with hecklers, infamously facing them at the 2025 Ryder Cup

Rory McIlroy wants decorum on the green.

The professional golfer, 37, lost his cool when a heckler shouted at him during a crucial moment in the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Penn. on Sunday, May 17.

The heated exchange occurred after Northern Ireland's McIlroy hit a poor shot on the 16th hole, which sent the ball straight into a bunker. A disruptive fan in the crowd then rattled him with a "USA!" chant, prompting the frustrated golfer to lash out with profanity.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland during the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 17, 2026.
Credit: Maddie Meyer/PGA of America/PGA of America via Getty

"Shut the f--- up!" McIlroy appeared to quip back, per videos circulating on social media.

He then seemingly pointed with his club in the direction of the heckler in the crowd, as seen in the social media clip, presumably to have the unruly spectator ejected by security from the tournament.

Ultimately, McIlroy tied for seventh place, finishing five strokes behind the winner, Aaron Rai. While the pro golfer didn't acknowledge the incident in his press conference after the tournament, he confessed he wished he could have a few shots back.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland at the 106th PGA Championship on May 16, 2024.
Credit: Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

"I think not birdieing the two par-5s and making the bogey at the drivable par-4 13th,” he told reporters after the match, of what he thinks led to his downfall. "To me, I felt like I played the golf I needed to play the rest of the way. If I birdied the two par-5s and turned that 5 into a 3 on 13, the day looks very different."

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McIlroy said he plans to skip the CJ Cup Byron Nelson tournament in Texas next week, but will return for the Memorial Tournament in Ohio, which gets underway on June 4.

"I'm going to take a couple weeks off, and then Memorial will be my next one," he shared.

Rory McIlroy (right) and Tommy Fleetwood of Europe at the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Credit: Vaughn Ridley/Sportsfile/Getty

Dealing with hecklers is nothing new for McIlroy, who was involved in a similar situation during the 2025 Ryder Cup, held in Long Island, where he repeatedly sparred with unruly fans.

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In what may go down as the most infamous moment from the weekend, McIlroy snapped at a heckler before making an impressive approach shot on the 16th hole, turning and telling the fan to “shut the f--- up” during his shot.

McIlroy called the moment “very f---ing satisfying” after he nestled the 149-yard shot from the rough just three feet from the hole, according to Golf Digest. He sank a birdie on the next shot, the outlet reported.

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Source: “AOL Sports”