Not exactly the typical “drink” that you see players hook a golf ball into on the course but it's exactly what happened to Rory McIlroy on Wednesday. During his Match Play at Austin Country Club against Ian Poulter, McIlroy tattooed his drive off the 4th hole way left, landing it…in someone's swimming pool. Poulter was already ahead by two over McIlroy and after that tee shot, took a three up advantage.
4th Hole: 3-putt from 18 feet.
5th Hole: Tee shot finds swimming pool.@IanJamesPoulter is taking advantage of Rory McIlroy's slow start and is 3UP thru 5. pic.twitter.com/rhnvApdGOo— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 24, 2021
Imagine finding a way to land your ball in water on a hole that doesn't have any water hazards. Seems almost impossible until you find your ball at the bottom of a swimming pool at a neighboring house to the golf course. It at least gives way to a funny story that Rory McIlroy can tell in the years to come. For now, though, it boils over into frustration.
As Charles Curtis of USA Today notes, it's been a struggle for McIlroy lately despite a couple of bright spots and top 15 finishes.
“Yes, there have been the top-13 finishes at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the Workday Championship and the Arnold Palmer. But there were the missed cuts at the Genesis Invitational and the Players, and in the latter, he hit some really bad shots that he attributed to issues with his swing that he’s tinkered with as he tries to chase speeds like Bryson DeChambeau,” said Curtis.
His most recent viral shot into someone's swimming pool is just the latest for McIlroy as he tries to right some of the wrongs that have popped up in his game recently.
It is worth noting Rory McIlroy responded by getting back to two down in the match against Poulter on the 6th hole.
A great escape from @McIlroyRory and he gets one back.
2DN thru 6. pic.twitter.com/QRlreFzIXH
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 24, 2021
Golf is such a mental game that nobody would've blamed Rory had he mailed it in after the earlier shot off the tee box on the 4th. But that's not part of his makeup.
He'll laugh about it later, just not now.