Rory McIlroy Frustrated by Slow Play Clock at Irish Open

Rory McIlroy expressed frustration after being put on the clock twice during the first round of the 2025 Amgen Irish Open at The K Club, leading to a rushed finish and a loss of two shots in his final three holes. Despite being known as one of the fastest players, McIlroy felt his group, which attracted large galleries and TV crews, was unfairly pressured to speed up, losing time due to the crowds and media presence. He called on officials to apply more common sense and allow some leeway for marquee groups like his, which naturally take longer because of these external factors. McIlroy acknowledged that while it is understandable to lose time, the current approach does not account for the additional delays caused by the size of the crowd and camera crews. This perceived lack of accommodation contributed to his disappointing one-under 71 score, which left him several shots behind the leaders. Overall, McIlroy's comments highlight ongoing tensions between players and tournament officials regarding pace-of-play regulations in high-profile golf events.