Rory McIlroy expressed his frustration after being put on the clock for slow play during the first round of the 2025 Irish Open. The golf star argued that officials lacked common sense, considering the large crowd following his high-profile group. Despite the pressure, McIlroy managed to finish with a one-under 71, five shots off the lead held by Nacho Elvira, Thornbjorn Olesen, and Romain Langasque. Watch as we break down the controversy, McIlroy’s reaction, and the ongoing debate over slow play in golf. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more golf highlights and analysis!
Keywords: Rory McIlroy, Irish Open, slow play, golf controversy, Nacho Elvira, Thornbjorn Olesen, Romain Langasque, golf highlights, PGA Tour, DP World Tour
Picture this. You’re stepping up to the tea. Eyes on every move. 20,000 spectators trailing behind. And then you’re told to hurry up. That’s exactly what happened to Rory Mroy during the first round of the 2025 Amgen Irish Open. But here’s where it gets controversial. The officials put him on the clock for slow play. Even though his star power and the huge gallery at draws were obvious factors in any delay. This marked Mroyy’s first Irish Open since winning the Masters in April and completing the Korea Grand Slam. Yet he found himself feeling more like a statistic than a superstar. We were put on the clock pretty early, he told reporters. One official left, then another showed up for the final three holes, insisting we pick up the pace. Under that mounting pressure, he bogeied two of his last three holes and signed for a one under par 71 at the K Club in Strafen, five shots behind the trio leading on 66. And this is the part most people miss. It wasn’t just tough holes slowing his group down, but the sheer size of the crowd and the camera crews that accompany a player of his caliber. We have to wait on fans, wait on cameras. Of course, we lose time, Mroy explained. Yet, whenever I play in top ranked groups, I’m the one staring at a stopwatch. The Telegraph’s Jamie Corrian, who witnessed the scene firsthand, didn’t hold back. It’s absurd they put him on the clock. The rest of the field had open fairways. His group faced chaos. Officials should have made allowances. When asked for a solution to golf’s slowplay headache, Mackoy admitted, “There’s no silver bullet.” “I wish I knew,” he shrugged. “This problem’s been around forever. Every proposed fix leaves someone unhappy, and none seemed to satisfy everyone.” Meanwhile, the clubhouse leaderboard was topped by three players at six under par 66. Spaniard Nacho Alvivera, 38, birdie four of his final five holes to finish without a blemish. Denmark’s Thornbjorn Olison closed with consecutive birdies and France’s Roman Langas birdied the 18th. They sit one shot clear of Daniel Brown and Burn Vberger while Ireland’s Shane Lowry posted a tidy 69. “Probably the best golf I’ve played in 2 or 3 months,” Alvira said after his brilliant run. “So here’s the question. Should marquee players like Mroy get extra leeway when thousands of fans follow them? Or is the clock the clock regardless of star power? Do you think officials should show more common sense or would that open the door to favoritism? Sound off below. Agree, disagree.
