Rory McIlroy appears to flinch when awkwardly touched by reporter – but fans suspect something else
Rory McIlroy flinching during an interview at The Match IX has golf fans theorizing about what led to the awkward on-screen moment.
McIlroy, 34, was being interviewed by on-course reporter Kathryn Tappen when the incident occurred at The Park golf course in Florida. As the interviewer asks another question, she extended her arm behind the four-time major champion while making a point, and at the same time, he flinches before answering.
“I felt like I was going into that Masters playing really well. I felt almost as confident as ever going into that tournament and just laid an egg. I played like dogs *** that week.”
It is these aspects golf fans have highlighted as the likely explanation for the seemingly awkward situation. “I bet she poked him with her notecard, and he thought it was a bug or something,” one Reddit user remarked.
“I think her comment card grazed him, and he got the chills for a second,” another concurred. One more said matter-of-factly: “I watched this live (and) had to play it back a few times. She never touched him. The corner of her card poked his arm or back, and he jumped.”
Others highlighted the hoodie he was wearing, and suggested it wasn’t the first time he’d flinched like that. “Isn’t he just trying to shake his hoodie off his shoulder?” one pontificated while another added: “He was doing that the entire night to get his hoodie to hang back.”
Regardless, McIlroy shook off that moment to win the ninth edition of the exhibition match play challenge against PGA Tour rival Max Homa plus LPGA Tour pair Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang. The world number two earned £1.26 million for charity by triumphing in a closest-to-the-pin tie-breaker during the 12-hole skins game.
“I just think [I will remember] how much fun it was, being out here with Max and Rose and Lexi and playing at such a great facility,” McIlroy said afterwards. “All these people out here, the atmosphere, it was a really cool night.
