The Player Championship is in full swing, but the eyes of golf are drawn to an event that happened two days before the first tee shot at Ponte Vedra Beach. The protagonists are Rory McIlroy and a certain Luke Potter, a promising golfer from the University of Texas. The episode must have been so annoying that the Northern Irishman, after finishing the first round with a bang, responded to those who asked him about the incident: Im very happy to have closed in 67 shots.
Rory McIlroy, phone
The incident occurred on Tuesday during the practice round of the Stadium Course at Ponte Vedra Beach, open to the public. McIlroy, in the company of Shane Lowry, reached the 18th hole and sent his tee shot into the water. It happens to the best in the world, especially without the adrenaline of the competition. A situation like many others if, a few meters behind the two professionals, a comment had not been raised out loud: Just like at the 2011 Masters. A clear reference to McIlroy's blackout at Augusta (triple bogey for a round he started as the leader and closed in 80 shots), which cost him the Major and which still weighs on his career today.
Witty? Ironic? We don't know the tone of the sentence uttered by the twenty-year-old American but we know that it was not appreciated by Rory McIlroy. The professional retraced his steps, took the smartphone from the spectator's hands and took it away. There is a video of the entire scene.
The outcry increased when the identity of the author of the comment was discovered. Not just any amateur or a fan but a promising student from the University of Texas, currently number 60 in the world amateur ranking. Twenty-four hours before the ill-advised outburst, Luke Potter had won the Hayt Collegiate Tournament leading his team to victory at the Sawgrass Country Club, a stone's throw from the Stadium Course.
The PGA Tour rules require the expulsion of any spectator who behaves inappropriately, including vulgar or disrespectful gestures. Potter, contacted by colleagues at GolfChannel.com, admitted his guilt and apologized publicly: "I made a mistake and I take full responsibility. I apologize, there is nothing more to add. It was a learning experience."
His coach, John Fields, said that Potter has written letters of apology to McIlroy, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, the director of PGA Tour University and the North Florida coach. "I am saddened that the video has become public, but it is also a reminder of the world we live in. Social media and visibility have made everything more immediate. Champions like Spieth, Scheffler, McIlroy and Tiger have to deal with situations like this every day. Its a wake-up call for all of us.
According to news sources, Potters phone was returned to its owner outside the clubhouse. But we will hear more about this story because education and respect are essential in golf.
