Rory McIlroy is no stranger to controversy at the Players Championship (Image: Orlando Ramirez, Getty Images)
The drama at TPC Sawgrass is building towards a thrilling conclusion. A remarkable $4.5million (£3.35m) prize awaits the winner of the Players Championship, with a total purse of $25m (£18.59m) up for grabs. As the PGA Tour‘s premier event, The Players has consistently been a standout fixture on the calendar, offering the largest prize fund outside of the major championships.
Last year saw Rory McIlroy claim a magnificent triumph that sparked what would prove to be arguably his finest season as a professional. The Northern Irishman captured his second Players title via a three-hole aggregate play-off against JJ Spaun after both players finished on 12-under-par. Now, we revisit some of the most contentious and memorable moments from recent Players Championship history, from McIlroy’s infamous fake ID incident to Wyndham Clark’s disqualification…
Rory McIlroy’s fake ID
McIlroy’s maiden appearance at The Players aged 20 got off to a challenging start, having missed the cut after rounds of 74 and 77. Yet his difficulties weren’t confined to the golf course.
Reflecting on his first experience at the tournament in 2024, McIlroy disclosed the additional challenges he faced away from the fairways following his early exit 15 years earlier, including being ejected from local bars for attempting to use a fake ID.
“The first year I played here, the week before, I was in Vegas for a fight and then probably didn’t prepare the best way possible,” he admitted.
“I missed the cut and ended up getting kicked out of bars in Jax beach for having a fake ID. I’ve come a long way!”
Drop controversy
McIlroy became embroiled in controversy at TPC Sawgrass, not merely due to the infamous fake ID episode, as his conduct drew scrutiny from Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland during the 2024 edition of the tournament.
Following his 10th-hole tee shot’s unfortunate plunge, McIlroy selected a drop location some 290 yards further on, prompting raised eyebrows amongst his playing companions.
The more disputed drop occurred at hole seven, triggering doubt from both Spieth and Hovland regarding whether the ball had actually crossed before the red line prior to its watery fate.
Whilst Hovland and Spieth declined to comment publicly, McIlroy came forward to address the issue and defended his decision.
He said: “I’m comfortable. I think that’s the most important thing. I think Jordan was just trying to make sure that I was doing the right thing. I mean, I was pretty sure that my ball had crossed where I was sort of dropping it. I was adamant.
“If anything, I was being conservative with it. I think at the end of the day, we’re all trying to protect ourselves, protect the field, as well. I wouldn’t say it was needless. I think he was just trying to make sure that what happened was the right thing.”
The Northern Irishman once used a fake ID to gain entry into bars (Image: Richard Heathcote, Getty Images)
Wyndham Clark disqualified
Five years prior, Wyndham Clark suffered a tournament to forget. The 2019 edition arrived during Clark’s rookie campaign and expectations were high for his performance in Ponte Vedra Beach.
However, after a disappointing opening-round score of 80, his tournament rapidly unravelled. To compound matters, Clark was disqualified following the opening round for signing an incorrect scorecard.
He had marked down a four at the par-four fourth hole when he had in fact bogeyed it. This is one Players Championship that Clark would undoubtedly prefer to blot out from his memory.
Shane Lowry snaps club
Irish golfer Shane Lowry also had a tough day at TPC Sawgrass. In 2023, Lowry, who clinched The Open Championship in 2019, grappled with a five-over-par 77 on the Thursday.
At the 15th hole, Lowry opted for a risky path from the trees which didn’t yield the desired result. Following his blunder, he vented his frustration by cursing and breaking his club over his knee after striking it against a tree.
Lowry’s double-bogey on that hole led to him ending the round tied in a dismal 127th place. However, he managed to make the cut and concluded the tournament tied for 35th with a score of four-under.