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Rory McIlroy. Alamy Stock Photo

'I wasn't aware that rule was changed' - Rory McIlroy hit with two-stroke penalty

Holywood native was penalised for an improper drop as he endured a nightmare end to his opening round at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

RORY McILROY SUFFERED a two-stroke penalty for a rules infraction as he endured a nightmare end to his opening round at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

The Holywood native was penalised for an improper drop on the par-5 seventh, his 16th as he started the day at Spyglass on the back nine, which meant a bogey became a triple.

McIlroy went through his last four holes five-over par to finish one-under after carding bogeys either side of the penalty.

McIlroy had been in the lead after 10 holes on six-under but finished tied in 39th place, well adrift of leader Patrick Cantlay on eight-under par.

“So I took an unplayable on 7 and I took it back on-line,” McIlroy said on PGATour.com.

“Then unbeknownst to me, the rule changed in January 2023 where you used to be able to come back on-line, take a club length either side. That was changed in 2019 to be able to do that.

“I wasn’t aware that that rule was changed again in 2023, so I took a drop thinking of the 2019 rules when everything was sort of changed, not knowing that the rule was changed again in 2023, so I got a two-stroke penalty there.”

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    Mute Fintan O'Halloran
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    Feb 2nd 2024, 1:49 AM

    My heart bleeds

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    Mute Richard Ford
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    Feb 2nd 2024, 4:33 AM

    @Fintan O’Halloran: I’m sure he’s worried.

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    Mute Simon Kerins
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    Feb 2nd 2024, 7:02 AM

    @Fintan O’Halloran: begrudgery is alive and well.

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    Mute Red Rooster
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    Feb 2nd 2024, 1:59 AM

    A professional who doesn’t know the rules of the game he plays for a living……

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    Mute Niall English
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    Feb 2nd 2024, 3:13 AM

    @Red Rooster: playing local club competitions. 99% of the players i have played with will have broken some rule during the round.

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    Mute Kingshu
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    Feb 2nd 2024, 9:23 AM

    @Red Rooster: it is surprising the number of professional sports people that don’t know or keep up with the rules. Not the first golfer to not be up to date, numerous Rugby Captains, entire England Rugby team V Italy 2027, the long count in boxing, the list goes on and on.

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    Mute MMD
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    Feb 2nd 2024, 8:43 AM

    Never his fault. Zica virus etc.

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    Mute Michael Kennedy
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    Feb 2nd 2024, 9:39 AM

    @MMD: what are you on about anonymous MMD, he clearly stated that he, himself, wasn’t aware of the rule change? He is not blaming anyone else. Stop talking nonsense.

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    Mute Kevin Dillon
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    Feb 2nd 2024, 9:55 AM

    @MMD: oh because the 30 other golfers that used zica virus as an excuse as well was all Mcilroys fault too?
    And where did he try blame anyone.
    Some golf rules are so stupid and dated.

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    Mute MMD
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    Feb 2nd 2024, 6:36 PM

    @Kevin Dillon: he’s a professional athlete. He or his caddy / buddy should know the rules. End of! He fudges too much..

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