Rory McIlroy entered the final round of the PGA Championship firmly in contention, but things quickly unraveled Sunday at Aronimink Golf Club.
After beginning the day just three strokes behind leader Alex Smalley, McIlroy struggled to find consistency throughout the round while eventual champion Aaron Rai surged ahead to capture the Wanamaker Trophy.
The Northern Irish golfer ultimately carded a 1-under-par 69, but his round became memorable for more than just his score after a heated interaction with a fan late in the day.
Golf analyst Johnson Wagner later revealed that McIlroy appeared uneasy long before he reached the first tee.
Johnson Wagner Says McIlroy ‘Seemed Off From the Very Beginning’ Before Final Round
Speaking on “Golf on CBS,” Wagner described unusual behavior from McIlroy during his pre-round warmup session at Aronimink.
“I was on the range for an hour before he showed up, right at an hour before his tee time,” Wagner explained.
“He hit so many balls. I’ve never seen him have such a long warm up.”
Wagner compared McIlroy’s lengthy preparation to Xander Schauffele, who reportedly arrived at the range less than 30 minutes before his tee time.
“So you couldn’t have had a bigger difference in the way they went about it,” Wagner said.
According to Wagner, McIlroy appeared especially focused on swing data and launch monitor numbers before the round began.
“But Rory seemed concerned,” Wagner continued.
“He was looking at TrackMan way more than I’ve ever seen him do before a round. He was looking over at the big T-Mobile Jumbotron at their numbers and comparing their numbers with his numbers.”
“So something seemed off from the very beginning with Rory, but he fought hard.”
Despite his struggles off the tee, Wagner praised McIlroy’s ability to grind out an under-par round on one of golf’s toughest setups.
“His speed was wonderful,” Wagner said of McIlroy’s putting.
“From where he hit it, it was really impressive that he was able to shoot one under par.”
Rory McIlroy Had Heated Exchange With Fan During PGA Championship
GettyRory McIlroy of Northern Ireland addresses a fan in the crowd after playing a shot on the 16th hole during the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 17, 2026, in Newtown, Pennsylvania.
Late in the round, McIlroy’s frustration became visible during the 16th hole at Aronimink.
After hitting a chip shot that rolled into a bunker, a fan began heckling him from the gallery.
CBS cameras later captured McIlroy responding to the fan before apparently alerting security.
Video from the broadcast appeared to show McIlroy yelling “shut the (expletive) up” toward the spectator.
The tense moment quickly circulated online and drew comparisons to the atmosphere McIlroy faced during the Ryder Cup last fall.
At that event, several fans crossed the line with heckling directed at the European team star.
One widely discussed incident involved McIlroy’s wife, Erica McIlroy, reportedly being struck by a beer while walking through a crowd.
Comedian Heather McMahan also later apologized after participating in anti-McIlroy chants during the event.
Meanwhile, Rai stayed composed throughout Sunday’s final round and secured his first career major championship victory with a three-shot win.
The English golfer closed out the tournament in dominant fashion and earned nearly $3.7 million for the victory.
McIlroy entered the PGA Championship following another strong season on tour, including a second consecutive Masters victory earlier this year and the 30th PGA Tour win of his career.
After the tournament, McIlroy said he plans to take several weeks off before returning to action at the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village in June.
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