Reason Rory McIlroy appeared to flinch when awkwardly touched by reporter

27 February 2024 , 13:11

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Rory McIlroy reacted awkwardly during an on-course interview with Kathryn Tappen

Rory McIlroy flinching during an interview at The Match IX has golf fans theorizing about what led to the awkward on-screen moment.

McIlroy, 34, was being interviewed by on-course reporter Kathryn Tappen when the incident occurred at The Park golf course in Florida. As the interviewer asks another question, she extended her arm behind the four-time major champion while making a point, and at the same time, he flinches before answering.

Tappen, notably, is holding a cue card in her left hand - and the microphone in her right - while gesturing with that arm out behind McIlroy. The world number two also has the hood of his lightweight hoodie off-centre over his right shoulder, which somewhat realigns after the flinch.

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It is these aspects golf fans have highlighted as the likely explanation for the seemingly awkward situation. "I bet she poked him with her notecard, and he thought it was a bug or something," one Reddit user remarked.

"I think her comment card grazed him, and he got the chills for a second," another concurred. One more said matter-of-factly: "I watched this live (and) had to play it back a few times. She never touched him. The corner of her card poked his arm or back, and he jumped."

Others highlighted the hoodie he was wearing, and suggested it wasn't the first time he'd flinched like that. "Isn’t he just trying to shake his hoodie off his shoulder?" one pontificated while another added: "He was doing that the entire night to get his hoodie to hang back."

McIlory and Tappen both continued with the interview

Tappen had cue cards in her left hand that seemingly made McIlory flinch after inadvertently being touched by them

Regardless, McIlroy shook off that moment to win the ninth edition of the exhibition match play challenge against PGA Tour rival Max Homa plus LPGA Tour pair Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang. The world number two earned £1.26 million for charity by triumphing in a closest-to-the-pin tie-breaker during the 12-hole skins game.

"I just think [I will remember] how much fun it was, being out here with Max and Rose and Lexi and playing at such a great facility," McIlroy said afterwards. "All these people out here, the atmosphere, it was a really cool night.

“What we’ve seen with what The Park is doing, and we can feel it here, so many kids, creating so many opportunities to get into the game of golf, it’s really cool.”

As the Northern Irishman alluded to, the West Palm Beach Golf Course reopened last year after being redesigned by Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner and Dirk Ziff to feature a nine-hole lighted course and putting course alongside its 18-hole championship one. Its focus is promoting access and inclusivity in the local community.

The Match IX was its broadcast showcase, and the exhibition featured women's players in Thompson and Zhang for the first time. Unlike those two and Homa, McIlory had previously experienced The Match after partnering Tiger Woods in the seventh edition against Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas at a four-ball, 12-hole event in December 2022.

Matthew Abbott