Tour News

Rory throws his club into the water

Published

11 years ago

Mar 6, 2015

Updated March 6 at 9:00 p.m.

Rory McIlroy sent his 3-iron swimming on the par 5 No. 8 at Trump National Doral after hitting his second shot in the water.

[quote_box_center]“Felt good at the time,” McIlroy said. “Look, I just let frustration get the better of me. It was heat of the moment, and I mean, if it had been any other club I probably wouldn’t have but I didn’t need a 3-iron for the rest of the round so I thought, why not?”[/quote_box_center]

Here’s the full video:

McIlroy went on to bogey the hole, and had to play the remainder of his second round at the WGC-Cadillac Championship with only 13 clubs.

Related: The Art of Club Throwing

The world No. 1 managed to right the ship, finishing his round with a 2-under par 70, and currently sits at T11 for the event.

He’ll have to find a replacement iron for his third round, if he chooses.

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Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

71 Comments

THE SWEET THONG

Mar 25, 2015 at 1:54 pm

punk, doubt you would see arnie or jack or any player with class do that, euro trash punk!

Reply Report comment
Billy__Baroo

Mar 19, 2015 at 3:23 am

I personally haven’t thrown a club in years, but if I was the #1 player in the world with all those cameras on me, and a million plus on the line, I’d probably throw a club or two if I was hitting it as poorly as he was!

Reply Report comment
me

Mar 9, 2015 at 1:04 pm

He should get fined for throwing a club. Ton’s of kids look up to him and this sort of behavior on a course should never be tolerated. I golf with guys that do it all the time. And why? Maybe because situations like this let them know that it’s OK. I tip my hat to the weekend players I play with when they can tap in for a 10 and still hold their composure walking off the green. There’s nothing more embarrassing than seeing a grown man lose his temper over a game. You can learn a lot about a man’s character by playing 18 holes together..

Reply Report comment
- Dave C.
  
  Mar 10, 2015 at 11:07 am
  
  I agree!
  
  Reply Report comment
ken

Mar 9, 2015 at 11:56 am

While I don’t condone throwing of clubs, this was a pretty good ‘helicopter’….BTW, later on a scuba diver recovered the club. This was shown on tv.
Pro’s can throw clubs. They are playing for millions. Ballplayers throw bats and gloves. Foorballe player do helmet tosses. Tennis players slam and sometime break racquetes.
We weekend hackers, on the other hand have no excuse. No one is paying us to play, nor is anyone watching. To us, it’s just a game.

Reply Report comment
Hunterdog

Mar 9, 2015 at 7:23 am

I think this is great! For years I have been resisting temptation about throwing clubs on the course. Now, thanks to McIlroy, it’s not only okay, but welcomed! I just want to understand the etiquette; throwing clubs is okay but what about slamming a putter into a green or hurting an iron head into a tee box? Are those cool moments now too?

Reply Report comment
Sargio_Gercia

Mar 8, 2015 at 5:35 am

Aahhhh. Finalemente, Rory, he gets some of my venommmmmm. Next thing, he will be kicking his shoes into the crowd. Some Latin temper. I have coached him welllll. Sargio

Reply Report comment
JHM

Mar 7, 2015 at 8:16 pm

it’s his caddies fault. his caddy should have noticed the grips were worn and put a little stickum on them. lucky he didn’t kill some ones wife and have to buy them lunch. wonder if he still signed his caddies card?

Reply Report comment
RG

Mar 7, 2015 at 7:28 pm

There are simply some emotions that cannot be endured with a golf club in one’s hand.
Bobby Jones

Reply Report comment
chris franklin

Mar 7, 2015 at 7:07 pm

Always thought he was a tosser……

Reply Report comment
Pete

Mar 7, 2015 at 6:42 pm

His club toss looks better than my swing!

Reply Report comment
Dave C.

Mar 7, 2015 at 1:31 pm

Rory’s a jerk, just like Tiger.

Reply Report comment
- cantstandya
  
  Mar 7, 2015 at 4:13 pm
  
  Tiger fans are out in force on this one. Tiger isn’t a victim and Rory gets different treatment because he’s honest and likable. Tiger gets ripped because he’s a creepy, sociopath. Tiger decided that he was going to behave in the way he does so he has to deal with the consequences. Rory gets the benefit of the doubt because he’s by all accounts a good person.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Dave C.
    
    Mar 8, 2015 at 7:12 am
    
    General Patton said, “America loves a winner, and cannot tolerate a loser.” Rory is a winner, and his actions are regarded as “cute”. Yesterday, the sportscasters kept showing Rory throwing his club, and even showed the scuba diver retrieving it. How wonderful, everyone will throw clubs now. It’s OK, Rory does it.
    
    If Tiger had continued winning, even with his bad behavior, everything would have been great. The media and public would have bashed Elin for driving him to his behavior. Like President Clinton, he’d have done nothing wrong.
    
    It just shows how messed up society is.
    
    Reply Report comment
Cdubbs

Mar 7, 2015 at 1:11 pm

This is just not cool. Hundreds of thousands of kids look up to this guy.

Reply Report comment
- The dude
  
  Mar 7, 2015 at 6:02 pm
  
  Oh boy…
  
  Reply Report comment
gdb99

Mar 7, 2015 at 12:41 pm

At first I thought, Oh, not good.

But, look back at the great personalities of the games past that threw clubs. The game needs this. Show some personality instead of the same old cardboard Pro golfer out there on tour.

Reply Report comment
Leon

Mar 7, 2015 at 11:32 am

He was just practicing the swing release drill, but whoops…overdone it…

Reply Report comment
johnnyb

Mar 7, 2015 at 11:22 am

Looks like they need to update his WITB pics. lol

Reply Report comment
Lucy

Mar 7, 2015 at 10:50 am

I said to my husband-before reading such ignorant and typically stupid comments-if Tiger had thrown his club – the response would have been nasty. Well – you delivered as usual-trying to blame Tiger Woods. Geez-you are pathetic. I am sure Rory does not blame him-and I dare say he has sworn in his life. I still have not met a “holier than thou” person that actually deserves to feel holier than anyone else. Get a life! Tiger has done wonderful things for the sport of golf. If you don’t know that-well-what is there left to say.

Reply Report comment
- cantstandya
  
  Mar 7, 2015 at 5:44 pm
  
  Oh Look, the Tiger is a victim brigade is out. Tiger is a bad person who cheats on the course and off. He’s a sociopath.
  
  Reply Report comment
Jason

Mar 7, 2015 at 10:11 am

Nice throw! I can’t relate to it, because it would be like throwing $200 into the water. So, I think it would be cool if Nike charged him retail value to get another 3 iron. Rory, let’s see, standard Nike 3 iron $150 + custom stamping at $20/letter, upgraded shaft + shipping. $400 sounds about right. Not that this would really matter to Rory, but it would make me smile. Maybe he’d realize how much Nike customers are being gouged!

Reply Report comment
michael p

Mar 7, 2015 at 9:38 am

This is the new generation of golfer thanks to Tiger and his outbursts. I understand Rory’s frustration and I have damaged a couple of clubs due to anger over a shot. But I had to pay for my damage and got sent to the club house by my father afterwards for acting like a jerk. I learned to channel my anger on the next shot and do it in a manner that is appropriate on the golf course. My father would not tolerate such behavior. You can show frustration but do it in a manner that does not give the younger generations of golfers the say that it is ok to act like that in public.

Reply Report comment
theo

Mar 7, 2015 at 9:24 am

3 iron. LOVED it and I give him a pass! Great fling. Mastery of the club head lag. If you’ve ever seen a 30 handicapper do this, it its up behind him and nowhere near the target.

Reply Report comment
asahi

Mar 7, 2015 at 8:40 am

It still young.
It can be seen for the more serious a passion.
I think as he was relatively honor student in PGA,
I’m certainly does not need 3I.
Put a hybrid like me. lol

Reply Report comment
BIG STU

Mar 7, 2015 at 7:53 am

It may have went a little further if he had had lead tape under the grip would have balanced better but good form and release. Bet that if Nike did not have one on site they had one expedited and flown in to replace his

Reply Report comment
Leo

Mar 7, 2015 at 7:46 am

Loved it.roy is human and needs to work on his rotation.i give it a 8.5

Reply Report comment
Nick

Mar 7, 2015 at 7:38 am

If I chucked a club with every bad shot, I’d be down to my putter and 9 iron by the fifth hole. He had a human moment, good for him.

Reply Report comment
Steven Dahlen

Mar 7, 2015 at 12:47 am

He would have never thrown the club if he was practicing using the Tee Claw!
Teeclaw.com

Reply Report comment
Booger

Mar 7, 2015 at 12:40 am

Can they track that club with pro tracer?

Reply Report comment
Sean

Mar 7, 2015 at 12:32 am

I don’t think he sent it swimming though. I think it sunk like a rock.

Reply Report comment
mo

Mar 7, 2015 at 12:14 am

A proud moment for Rory McElroy. He and Sergio should hang out more together.

Reply Report comment
- Rory McIlroy
  
  Mar 7, 2015 at 6:53 am
  
  At least spell my name right man!
  
  Reply Report comment
Michael Holmstrom

Mar 6, 2015 at 9:46 pm

Wow. Perfect Form on that toss into the water! Had nice secondary axis tilt!

Reply Report comment
No Solution

Mar 6, 2015 at 9:38 pm

Weak . . . . get’s all cranky and heaves one, then after the round calls Nike for a free replacement

Reply Report comment
- Eh
  
  Mar 6, 2015 at 10:55 pm
  
  Eh a block of metal on a stick with rubber at the end isn’t very much if you’re getting 250 mil+ from the company XD
  
  Reply Report comment
KDawg McGriff

Mar 6, 2015 at 9:07 pm

CMON do this every week ! Independent Contractors for my entertainment. THE Fans on the winning hole get a free sleeve of NIKE balls. The tournament, The golfer, the sponsor, everybody wins !!! It would have gone further with a stepless shaft and made a bigger splash.

Reply Report comment
KDawg McGriff

Mar 6, 2015 at 8:51 pm

Awesome ! They’re independent contractors for my entertainment. Do this each week, have a contest on which hole this will happen on. Each spectator on the winning hole gets a sleeve of Nike balls. Everybody wins ! The tournament, the fans, the golfer, etc. He could have thrown it further if that shat was stepless……..Windshear and everything you know.

Reply Report comment
farmer

Mar 6, 2015 at 8:31 pm

Nice shoulder turn, good balance, nice high flight, all in all, not a bad toss. Bet he gets fined a healthy amount.

Reply Report comment
BJ

Mar 6, 2015 at 7:20 pm

Drown it, baby!

Reply Report comment
Russel Johnson

Mar 6, 2015 at 7:09 pm

WOW….. Please stop justifying an A@@Hole move folks! What happened to sportsmanship? That’s right it’s the next coming of the Messiah. Grow up you little boy and act like a MAN!

Reply Report comment
rgb

Mar 6, 2015 at 6:18 pm

Next: The knee-jerk requisite social media apology in ten…. nine…. eight….

Reply Report comment
Golfraven

Mar 6, 2015 at 6:16 pm

How about the PGA sets the rule that any club intentionally damaged/snapped or thrown into water cannot be replaced till next season. Pros would think twice about such tantrums.

Reply Report comment
- Eh
  
  Mar 6, 2015 at 10:58 pm
  
  BRB getting my scuba gear…
  
  Reply Report comment
Birdeez

Mar 6, 2015 at 6:14 pm

Rory does this and it shows he’s human, not a robot, and is nearly applauded. Tiger and more recently Sergio does this, media and fans kill them with hate and talk of how horrible they are.

Double standard is annoying. Media picks and chooses who gets favorable treatment. Right now media deciding that Rory gets a pass. Doing the same with Hillary. Imagine if dick Cheney hid emails on server in basement. I don’t care that Rory did this, I just don’t want to see media freak out when someone else does exact same thing

Reply Report comment
Golfraven

Mar 6, 2015 at 6:11 pm

Whats next, is he going to throw shoes – like Sergio in his prime? I know golf can be frustrated but throwing clubs is not gentelman like. It sets bad example for the kids.

Reply Report comment
Rich

Mar 6, 2015 at 6:11 pm

Golfwrx Editors. Better amend that WITB. He’s no longer carrying that iron.

Reply Report comment
Double Mocha Man

Mar 6, 2015 at 5:57 pm

It was a case of burying the dead. A deep sea water burial.

Reply Report comment
Dpavs

Mar 6, 2015 at 5:39 pm

I grow tired of this kind of juvenile attitude in sports… its really getting old.

Reply Report comment
david

Mar 6, 2015 at 4:39 pm

Rory showing some excess douche-baggery. He is totally hot and cold, not consistent whatsoever

Reply Report comment
gwillis7

Mar 6, 2015 at 4:24 pm

I have no problem with it. He’s human and was pissed off…I get he makes a ton of $$$ and is in public eye and is held to a higher standard blah blah-but I like that he is being real right here! I bet Nike didn’t like it lol

Reply Report comment
Bryan P

Mar 6, 2015 at 4:21 pm

The club went further than the ball!

Reply Report comment
- Birdeez
  
  Mar 6, 2015 at 6:08 pm
  
  Except it didn’t. Not even close
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Progolfer
    
    Mar 6, 2015 at 7:30 pm
    
    Hahaha Bryan. It’s a quote from Happy Gilmore, Birdeez…
    
    Reply Report comment
Crash2k1

Mar 6, 2015 at 4:14 pm

Love it. Finally someone who is not a robot out there with all the “PC I have to fake my image to cash in the corporate image $” stuff we see out there. These guys are playing a game not leading men and women and making life or death decisions. Need I remind all you high brow fakes that the great MJ punched his team mate, Hogan could be a jerk and Bob Knight was at his very best an uncontrollable potty mouth. As far as a role model for you kids, that’s your job mom and dad.

Reply Report comment
- Dr Troy
  
  Mar 6, 2015 at 7:41 pm
  
  TOTALLY agree with this statement! Everyone can get over it. He did it, we’ve all wanted to do it probably. He’s not a role model for your nappy kids.
  
  Reply Report comment
- me
  
  Mar 9, 2015 at 1:16 pm
  
  Etiquette in golf is completely different than basketball, or any other sport for that matter. I love watching hockey fights. And high intensity team sports usually come with highly emotional reactions to the situation at hand. Golfers are just held to higher standards in this regard. Golf is the only sport you have to call penalties on yourself. Other sports, you’re hoping the ref just doesn’t see it. I DO like emotion in golf, fist pumps, maybe the occasional Zack Johnson chest bump to his caddy. But club throwing is so juvenile and embarrassing.
  
  Reply Report comment
HackerDad31

Mar 6, 2015 at 4:10 pm

I actually like golfers showing a little steam every now and then. So sick of the swing mechanic-obsessed robots they’ve become. So boring to watch..

Reply Report comment
Big_5_Hole

Mar 6, 2015 at 4:07 pm

Imagine the gongshow that would result if another Nike player did this…..

Reply Report comment
MartyMoose

Mar 6, 2015 at 4:05 pm

Can we see in this in infrared please?

Reply Report comment
MHendon

Mar 6, 2015 at 4:00 pm

Only thing keeping me from doing the same thing some times is I got to pay for my clubs.

Reply Report comment
Jimmy O

Mar 6, 2015 at 3:51 pm

Can’t blame him, his Vapors are now back in their element

Reply Report comment
- Jimmy O
  
  Mar 6, 2015 at 3:56 pm
  
  Haha NM he’s not even using the new product
  
  Reply Report comment
patricknorm

Mar 6, 2015 at 3:39 pm

I feel your pain Rory. Except I cannot afford to toss any club in the water like that. Grow a pair and fix your swing. This doesn’t look like good preparation for the Masters.

Reply Report comment
c masty

Mar 6, 2015 at 3:36 pm

What a piss poor show of sportsmanship. Hopefully the PGA will find him 500 grand.

Reply Report comment
- BL
  
  Mar 6, 2015 at 3:41 pm
  
  I hope the PGA will find me 500 grand too.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - c masty
    
    Mar 6, 2015 at 3:45 pm
    
    FINE. My bad.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Brian
  
  Mar 6, 2015 at 5:05 pm
  
  Oh boo hoo. It’s not like he punched a Small Forward or called himself a homophobic slur on tape. He’s allowed to get pissed and no one got hurt. And I just got SCUBA certified so they club is going on eBay.
  
  Reply Report comment
RobG

Mar 6, 2015 at 3:28 pm

No that is a right and proper dismissal of a 6-iron!

Reply Report comment
- sgniwder99
  
  Mar 6, 2015 at 4:37 pm
  
  Was it a 6 iron? If so, that’s a good call. Pro shops usually have plenty of those in the bargain bin, so Rory should have no problem finding a replacement.
  
  Reply Report comment
Steve Wozeniak

Mar 6, 2015 at 3:24 pm

Now that’s how to release it baby !!!!!!

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.

Check out links to all our photos below.