Texas golfer Luke Potter apologizes to Rory McIlroy after being ejected for heckling PGA star

Texas men’s golfer Luke Potter has apologized after he was allegedly escorted out of TPC Sawgrass following 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.

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 for the moment of weakness.

“Look, I just made a mistake, and I take ownership for it,” Potter stated. “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 tickets for The Players the next day.

“He’s got a hole in his heart,” Fields said. “He had no idea that what was coming out of his mouth was going to result in this fashion.

“With regards to our University of Texas program, I mean it’s an embarrassing moment. It is particularly sensitive to me because our program is built on respect for the game, and I would tell you that we coach 18- to 22-year-olds on a normal basis and they don’t always make the right call, and that’s my responsibility as a coach, and when they do make a mistake it’s a learning moment.”

— On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this article.