Rory McIlroy Hits His Dad With Wayward Shot At The Masters

Gerry McIlroy may have a bruise on his leg this evening courtesy of his son...

Screenshots: masters.com

Gerry McIlroy may have a bruise on his leg this evening courtesy of his son...

Rory McIlroy Hits His Dad With Wayward Shot At The Masters

Rory McIlroy's bid for the career grand slam got off to a rocky start on day one of The Masters.

The four-time Major winner bogeyed the 5th and 6th holes to drop to two over before yet another bogey at the 7th.

It was on the 7th at Augusta National where he found trees off the tee and then struck his dad with his golf ball on the second shot.

McIlroy was looking to play a hook shot around the trees but hit it dead straight into the direction of his father Gerry.

Thankfully Rory gave a good shout of fore and his ball struck Gerry on the back of the leg, which didn't look to cause too much damage.

Watch the shot below:

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Gerry is said to have joked about asking for an autographed glove:

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Rory joked after his round that he would sign a bag of frozen peas for his dad.

McIlroy eventually turned in three over after a three-putt bogey on the 9th.

Rory struggled on day one at Augusta

The Northern Irishman entered the week in a bad run of form after a missed cut at The Players and an early exit at the WGC-Match Play where he went out in the group stage.

Related: The Masters TV Coverage 2021

He has recently teamed up with renowned coach Pete Cowen, though, so there is some hope for a turnaround in form in the not-too-distant future.

“He’s just giving me a better understanding of what I do and what I do well, and when it maybe isn’t going so well, what are the things that I can do to sort of fix myself in way. I think that’s the thing," McIlroy said of his work with Cowen.

Related: What is Rory McIlroy wearing at The Masters?

“So, you know, it’s the start of a journey with Pete and it’s not as if we haven’t worked before.

"I’ve known Pete for nearly 20 years so it’s nothing new, really, but I just think a second set of eyes and someone with Pete’s knowledge and wisdom can only be a good thing.”

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV