An interesting interaction occurred on Sunday between two-time Masters winner Rory McIlroy and a heckler in the crowd at Aronimink Golf Club, host of the 2026 PGA Championship.
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As McIlroy worked on completing the par-5 16th hole, he hit a shot toward the hole sitting 37 yards away. However, the ball bounced off a nearby slope before landing in the rough. An unseen fan then chanted "U-S-A" at the Irishman.
The CBS cameras showed the professional golfer responding to the fan by turning around and seemingly saying, "shut the (expletive) up." He then pointed to the fan with his golf club.
🚨🗣️ ‘SHUT THE F— UP!’ 🫨
Rory McIlroy loses it on a fan during his final round at The PGA Championship and appears to direct security to have them removed. pic.twitter.com/rlIxfPW9ln
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) May 17, 2026
It remains unclear if security escorted the fan off of the premises after the heated moment with McIlroy. The golfer continued with the hole, and he made par despite sending his second shot into the rough.
However, the PGA Championship did not go as he hoped. He started the 16th hole three strokes behind PGA Championship leader Aaron Rai. He ended the final round four under, which tied for seventh in the tournament. He had the same score as Cameron Smith and Xander Schauffele.
McIlroy fell short of the calendar Grand Slam while Rai celebrated the PGA Championship win. This feat requires a golfer to win The Open Championship, U.S. Open, PGA Championship, and Masters Tournament in the same year.
"I think not birdieing the two par 5s and making the bogey at the drivable par-4 13th," McIlroy said about his overall performance at Aronimink.
"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."
Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley ended the tournament tied for second. Justin Thomas, Ludvig Aberg, and Matti Schmid tied for fourth.
