‘Always happens’ – Rory McIlroy went mad at rules official over lack of ‘common sense’

Rory McIlroy was left frustrated after his group was put on the clock twice for slow play at the Irish Open – and it was not the first time.

The event teed off at the K Club on Thursday but all did not go to plan for the reigning Masters champion, who did not take well to the warnings.

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Pressed on the issue, McIlroy was critical of the officials’ decision, claiming it was made with ‘little common sense.’

“I got frustrated the last few holes because I felt a bit rushed,” McIlroy explained. “We got put on the clock pretty early and then the first official went away and then we were put on the clock for the last three holes by another one.

“I feel like it always happens and I don’t think they use sort of common sense in terms of, well, of course we’re going to lose ground because we’re going to have to wait on crowds and wait on the two camera crews that are out there.

“They should give us a little bit of leeway.”

McIlroy revealed that it isn’t the first time it has happened and that it is a regular occurrence for the group in which he plays.

He also said it happened at the Players Championship, a tournament he went on to win.

In the first two rounds, he was paired with world no.1 Scottie Scheffler and world no.3 Xander Schauffele.

With McIlroy being the game’s biggest star, his group often has to contend with bigger crowds and more camera crews, meaning he faces more delays as he moves through the course.

And the Northern Irishman admitted he lost his cool at The Players earlier this year.

He added: “It’s happened to me quite a lot before in these sort of big groups when I come back to Europe and play and I just let it agitate me.

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“Any time I either come back to this tour or I play in some of those (world) 1, 2, 3 groups, we are always put on the clock for the same reason. It happened at the Players and I lost my s*** with an official.”

Slow pace has become a huge talking point in golf in recent months with measures being implemented to combat it.

The measures in place range from warnings to penalty strokes and fines.

McIlroy, winner at The K Club in 2016, finished the first round with a 1-under 71 after posting five birdies and four bogeys.

He is grouped with Thriston Lawrence and Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan.

“Ball-striking wise, I thought I was pretty good today,” said McIlroy.

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“Around the greens for the most part I was good, but I missed a couple of mid-range putts towards the end to save par and then that one at the last for birdie.

“I hit decent putts. I’m just hitting edges so hopefully I can get it going tomorrow and shoot a low one.”

Meanwhile, Shane Lowry carded three birdies in his last six holes to remain in contention at three under. Brooks Koepka emulated McIlroy by also posting 71.

Home favourite Lowry, is hoping to raise his game ahead of the Ryder Cup later this month. His last top-10 finish came in May at the Truist Championship.