McIlroy: Apology saved me $20,000 in fines from Doral club throw
Sometimes, all it takes is an apology.
The PGA Tour was planning to fine Rory McIlroy $25,000 for throwing his 3-iron into a water hazard in frustration during the WGC-Cadillac Championship in March. However, then McIlroy said he was sorry for losing his cool in a post-round TV interview.
“The fine was reduced from $25,000 to $5,000 because I said I was sorry in the TV interview afterwards,” said McIlroy, according to ESPN UK.
After McIlroy’s club found the bottom of the hazard of the par-5 eighth on the TPC Blue Monster at Trump Doral, The Donald hired a SCUBA diver to fetch the club from the murky depths. The next day, Trump presented McIlroy with the club in a PR stunt.
That may have been a low point on the season for McIlroy, who went on to win twice in May, including the WGC-Cadillac Match Play and the Wells Fargo Championship. However, McIlroy “lost” his season when he injured his ankle playing soccer with buddies on July 4, leading him to miss the British Open and becoming the first Open champion who did not defend the Claret Jug since Ben Hogan in 1954.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
