x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
WATCH: Rory McIlroy stunningly tops a shot right into the water
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf
News

WATCH: Rory McIlroy stunningly tops a shot right into the water

By: Nick Piastowski
  • Follow on Twitter
September 5, 2020
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy reacts after missing his par putt on the 18th hole at East Lake Golf Club on Saturday.

Getty Images

Rory McIlroy hit his first shot on the 18th hole at East Lake Golf Club 371 yards. It was his longest drive through his two rounds at the Tour Championship. 

He hit his second shot on Saturday about 30 yards. Into the water about 15 yards in front of him. Topped. It was his worst shot through his two rounds. It’s up there – down there? – with all of his other rounds, too. 

Oh. Oh man. 

“Oh,” one Golf Channel announcer said.  

“Oh man,” another announcer said.   

The rough at East Lake is no joke.

It happens to the best of us. pic.twitter.com/wv7cZpS7pD

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 5, 2020

McIlroy had been even-par and three shots out of the lead entering the 574-yard, par-5 18th. He ripped his drive through the fairway. He was 209 yards away from the hole, but his ball was buried in the rough. 

“This is a bad lie,” an announcer said. “It’s going to take all of his power and strength to get this to carry.” 

It needed a bit more. 

The ball went about a yard in the air before going straight to the bottom of the lake. McIlroy turned around, shook his head, turned back and winced. 

“You just don’t see that very often,” one announcer said.  

“As in ever,” another announcer said.  

“Almost never,” a third announcer said. 

McIlroy would drop, and he hit his third shot and fourth stroke to about 35 feet. To add insult to penalty, his par putt rimmed out of the cup. He finished with a six.

“Yeah, the lie was sort of iffy,” McIlroy said after the round. “My biggest concern was trying to carry the first bunker on the right there, and I knew I needed to hit it really hard and I swung hard at it, and I got it just – I got it maybe like right in the middle of the ball and I didn’t get – I felt like if I tried to sweep it, it would be better, and I just sort of came up on it a little bit.

“Probably in hindsight trying to take on a little bit too much. So yeah, and then it would have been nice to get away with a par. It wasn’t to be.”

Latest In News

2 hours ago

Scottie Scheffler's 10 sweetest moments following his PGA win | Rogers Report

2 hours ago

Scottie Scheffler, hot drivers and 1990’s R&B: 50 thoughts on the PGA

2 hours ago

Surprise PGA winners, Scottie's hilarious tweak, Rory's silence | Monday Finish

4 hours ago

Major champion apologizes for 'inappropriate' outburst at PGA Championship

Nick Piastowski

Nick Piastowski

Golf.com Editor

Nick Piastowski is a Senior Editor at Golf.com and Golf Magazine. In his role, he is responsible for editing, writing and developing stories across the golf space. And when he’s not writing about ways to hit the golf ball farther and straighter, the Milwaukee native is probably playing the game, hitting the ball left, right and short, and drinking a cold beer to wash away his score. You can reach out to him about any of these topics — his stories, his game or his beers — at nick.piastowski@golf.com.

  • Author Twitter Account

Related Articles

News
rory mcilroy crouches at the masters in celebration after victory at augusta national

Masters TV ratings: 6 intriguing numbers from Rory McIlroy's win

By: James Colgan
News
ludvig aberg's wacky bounce at scottish open

‘Never seen it before’: Ludvig Aberg endures one of worst breaks imaginable

By: Alan Bastable
News
Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy thinks these 2 words — when he absolutely needs a good drive

By: Nick Piastowski
News
Greg Norman

Greg Norman opens up on Rory McIlroy, the R&A and his 'moral line'

By: Nick Piastowski
News
Kevin Kisner

30 Presidents Cup observations: Is Tom Kim … the next Rory McIlroy? And more

By: Nick Piastowski
News
Rory McIlroy reacts to putt at 2022 Open Championship at St. Andrews

Rory McIlroy to face off against LIV players at St. Andrews (again)

By: Kevin Cunningham
News
Rory McIlroy flop shot

WATCH: Rory McIlroy's full-swing flop shot is one of the most impressive you'll ever see

By: Jessica Marksbury
News
rory mcilroy ian poulter

Will LIV players play in Ryder Cup? We won’t know for months

By: Sean Zak
News
rory mcilroy

Watch Rory McIlroy play next year's Ryder Cup course … in person … for free(!?)

By: Sean Zak
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version