World No.2 Rory McIlroy was greeted with a loud and boisterous crowd as he climbed the leaderboard on day three of the the PGA Championship. Even the Northern Irishman’s accent seemed to be fair game for the locals in Pennsylvania but the two-time Masters champion didn’t let it affect him.
Brooks Koepka joined the 37-year-old on the tee for round three, with the pair drawing the largest following after Bryson DeChambeau missed the cut at his second major of the season. DeChambeau had attracted a sizeable following on Thursday and Friday but his early exit saw a clear front-runner for the most popular group among spectators at Aronimink Golf Club.
One flashpoint came on the 11th hole, after Koepka and McIlroy allowed a separate group to pass through in order to tee off on the ninth hole due to the way the course is laid out. Fans were paying as much as $17 (£12.75) for a beer – with the price offset by free food – but the locals were still as loud as ever as they waited to greet the big names.
The back-to back Masters champ and his playing partner eventually made their way to their balls on the 417-yard, par-four hole after letting the other group through. As the group moved forward to play their second shots, McIlroy briefly stepped away for a comfort break, seemingly to the confusion of some of those who had jostled for position in the crowd with their phones in hand.
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“Where’s Rory,” supporters in the crowd began to murmur as Koepka advanced down the fairway. He duly emerged to the sound of cheers, though some soon attempted to heckle him.
“Lets gooo Rory!” cried numerous fans. “Are the pins easier today, Rory? Any complaints?” shouted another, attempting a cheeky dig in relation to comments made by McIlroy earlier in the week. The Holywood golfer was one of a number of players to voice concerns over pin locations, with world No.1 Scottie Scheffler also chiming in.
McIlroy registered a birdie on the 11th hole before teeing off on 12, and as he strode forward a small contingent started chanting, “USA, USA!” It was a reminder of the patriotic chanting which also greeted the player last year when he was part of the European team which won the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black course.
View 3 ImagesFans gathered in numbers to watch the reigning Masters champion and Brooks Koepka in action(Image: Richard Heathcote, Getty Images)
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Some fans appeared divided over their feelings towards the Northern Irishman, with one spectator – who didn’t appear to enjoy seeing McIlroy there – saying “I can hear your Irish accent”. A nearby police officer was forced to quieten them down, though the squabbling within the crowd didn’t fully die down.
McIlroy and Koepka appeared unbothered, both finishing their rounds in the top 25. McIlroy, who is three strokes off the lead heading into Sunday’s play, delivered a clear “no” when asked if the noise from the gallery affected his game.
He added: “Again, 103 out of 104 weeks, I get pretty good support everywhere I go. It’s just that one week every — or one week every four years, I guess it is, that most of the crowd are on the other side, and that’s fine.
“If I were them, I’d be on the US side, too. But no, I do, I feel like I get a lot of support anywhere I go, and I’m very fortunate and very grateful for that.”
View 3 ImagesMcIlroy appeared unbothered by the crowd noise(Image: Richard Heathcote, Getty Images)
McIlroy found himself in a tie for 105th after the opening round, having carded a four-over on Thursday, only to not sit tied for seventh. Just four players in the history of golf’s majors have gone on to win after sitting 50th or lower on the leaderboard following the first round.
Now sitting at -3, he’s very much back in contention to win a tournament he last claimed more than a decade ago. Koepka, who claimed the most recent of his three PGA Championship wins in 2023, is one under par and in a tie for 23rd.