Rory McIlroy was one of the players who simply had to get off to a fast start on Sunday at Torrey Pines if he was going to put himself in contention to win the Genesis Invitational.
Rory McIlroy was not out of the running heading into the final round of the Genesis Invitational. However, a two over par round on Saturday left the Northern Irishman with a mountain to climb if he was going to make it two wins from two at the start of the PGA Tour season.
And unfortunately, it did not prove to be the start to Sunday McIlroy needed.
He made a bogey on the first after his approach from the fairway bunker went beyond the green. And he failed to take any of the birdie opportunities he had over the next few holes.
Rory McIlroy hits out at fan’s criticism during the final round of the Genesis Invitational
While none of the chances were easy, they were the kind of putts which would have knocked any wind out of McIlroy’s sails as they rolled by the hole. And it seems that the frustration got the better of him at one stage.
After the four-time major champion failed to make birdie on the third, one fan decided to heckle McIlroy’s caddie Harry Diamond.
According to Dan Rapaport, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am champion was in no mood to listen to the criticism.
Rory McIlroy’s caddie is no stranger to criticism
Diamond has come in for plenty of criticism, particularly in the last 12 months. Some pointed the finger of blame at Diamond after McIlroy failed to win the US Open at Pinehurst, with the 35-year-old making a couple of strange club selections on the back nine.
McIlroy made a point in praising Diamond after his sixth Race to Dubai victory later in the year, while Billy Foster is amongst those to have defended Diamond.
And certainly, questioning Diamond on Sunday at Torrey Pines was completely out of line when, on another day, McIlroy could have easily made a number of birdies at the start of his final round.
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