Rory McIlroy has twice left J.J. Spaun disappointed this year, first at The Players Championship in March and again at The Masters in April, according to Spaun.
The Northern Irishman claimed victory at TPC Sawgrass after a playoff against Spaun. After his win, McIlroy told the media he was thrilled to add such a prestigious title to his career achievements.
He also mentioned how surprising it was that Spaun – who said he enjoyed playing alongside him – found water on the 17th hole after hitting an eight-iron into the wind.
One month later, the world No. 2 revealed that he hadn’t forgotten the incident and brought it up during a controversial exchange at Augusta National.
J.J. Spaun says Rory McIlroy ‘hurt’ him at The Masters with ruthless comment
It takes quite a bit to catch Shane Lowry off guard with some banter, but Rory McIlroy managed it with a remark that left even the Irishman surprised.
Spaun recalled the encounter during an appearance on GOLF’s Subpar Podcast, explaining:
“It was a playoff for the par three contest at The Masters. I am walking back to the par three course and Rory is like leaving the range and we are crossing paths.
“He was like are you doing a play-off for the par three contest? I was like, yeah, I guess. He was like ‘better get the club right this time’.”
The jab clearly stung Spaun, who added: “That hurt, that hit me dip. Shane Lowry was there and was like f****** hell Rory! I know it’s a rinky dink par three, but it was still a little too soon to hear that.”
What do the numbers say about J.J. Spaun’s season?
J.J. Spaun has always been seen as a talented and reliable golfer. However, this season he has shown a new level compared to previous chapters of his career.
He hasn’t just improved his consistency – he’s also proven that he can show up and win golf’s biggest tournaments.
| Results | Spaun’s totals |
| Events played | 18 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Top-10s | 5 |
| Top-25s | 8 |
| Cuts made | 15 |
Spaun’s numbers this season are impressive, and they might have looked even better if he had managed to get past McIlroy in the play-off at The Players Championship.
Even after his big win at Oakmont, that loss at TPC Sawgrass probably still lingers for him, especially with McIlroy keeping the banter going.
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