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18th Mar 2018

Rory McIlroy calls for limit on alcohol sales at golf events after fan repeatedly yells his wife’s name on course

Conor Heneghan

Rory McIlroy

McIlroy made the suggestion after an incident at the Arnold Palmer Invitational Tournament this weekend.

Rory Mclroy has suggested that the PGA Tour should place a limit on alcohol sales at golf events after a fan repeatedly yelled the name of his wife while in the vicinity of McIlroy on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters after the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Tournament on Saturday, McIlroy revealed that he had been heckled when asked if he had any encounters with unruly fans at the Bay Hill club in Florida.

“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, but, yeah, I don’t know, I think it’s gotten a little much, to be honest,” McIlroy said, according to golf.com.

“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 it’s, sometimes when the comments get personal and people get a little bit rowdy it can get a little much,” McIlroy added.

“I don’t know, 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.”

McIlroy was asked if the Waste Management Phoenix Open, which is renowned for its raucous atmosphere and is referred to as ‘The Greatest Show on Grass’, had influenced the atmosphere at other events.

“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 again like you don’t want people to be put off from bringing their kids when people are shouting stuff out,” McIlroy added.

“You want people to enjoy themselves.”

McIlroy goes into the final round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational Tournament two shots behind leader Henrik Stenson on a score of -10.