Report: Texas golfer escorted out of TPC Sawgrass after incident with Rory McIlroy

A Texas men’s golfer was escorted out of TPC Sawgrass after allegedly making a comment toward Rory McIlroy during a practice round ahead of The Players Championship, according to Golf.com. He apparently referenced the 2011 Masters after McIlroy hit a shot in the water.

Luke Potter and some of his Texas teammates were in attendance for Tuesday’s practice round and watched McIlroy hit a shot into the water on the 18th hole. After it happened, Potter reportedly referenced the 2011 Masters, when McIlroy struggled during the final round to lose his 54-hole lead. The rough stretch started with a triple bogey on the 10th hole, which included a ball in the water.

McIlroy then went over to Potter and a teammate, and took the teammate’s phone. Potter was then escorted off the course, Golf.com reported. The PGA Tour’s fan code of conduct states fans cannot make “rude, vulgar or other inappropriate comments or gestures.”

Potter spoke with Golf Channel about the incident and said he takes “ownership” for what happened. He also apologized.

“Look, I just made a mistake, and I take ownership for it,” Potter said. “I apologize for it. That’s about all that needs to be said. … It’s just a good learning experience. Yeah, I apologize.”

Potter is in his first season at Texas after two years at Arizona State. In seven events this season, he has a 70.22 stroke average and won The Hayt earlier this month. As a recruit, he was the top prospect from the 2022 cycle, according to Golf Channel – a group that also included Nick Dunlap and Luke Clanton. He is currently No. 60 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking after getting as high as No. 38.

Texas coach John Fields also spoke with Golf.com about the incident involving Potter and McIlroy. He said his star player didn’t realize the fallout over what he said in the moment, and Potter wrote letters apologizing to McIlroy, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and PGA Tour University director Brendan von Doehren. He also penned a letter to Scott Schroeder, the head coach at North Florida who helps host The Hayt and helps players get ticket for The Players the next day.

“Texas golf is 98 years old,” Fields said. “It has 106 victories on the PGA Tour. It has 10 major championships with six major champions. This is a proud program, and it hurts my heart that this would have happened, but I’m a coach and I know that 18-, 22-year-olds make mistakes from time to time. That’s what happened yesterday.”