{"id":2540,"date":"2025-07-11T21:31:03","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T21:31:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/2540\/"},"modified":"2025-07-11T21:31:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T21:31:03","slug":"how-rory-mcilroy-trolled-j-j-spaun-at-the-masters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/2540\/","title":{"rendered":"How Rory McIlroy trolled J.J. Spaun at the Masters"},"content":{"rendered":"

J.J. Spaun joined this week\u2019s episode of GOLF\u2019s Subpar podcast<\/a> to discuss his U.S. Open title, career resurgence and more, and he also told the story of one friendly Rory McIlroy jab from the Masters.<\/p>\n

As the in-studio interview was wrapping up, Subpar co-host Drew Stoltz asked Spaun, \u201cHave you ever received any words of wisdom before the start of a playoff?\u201d<\/p>\n

Spaun cursed and then laughed. \u201cI have,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s revisit the 2025 Players Championship. Spaun and McIlroy faced off in a three-hole aggregate playoff on a windy Monday morning \u2014\u00a0McIlroy looking for his second Players title and Spaun desperately searching for the biggest victory of his career.<\/p>\n


\n \"J.J. <\/a><\/p>\n

In hours after J.J. Spaun\u2019s U.S. Open win, the best moment was unscripted<\/a>
\n By:<\/p>\n


\n Josh Berhow <\/a><\/p>\n

McIlroy birdied the 16th and Spaun parred. On the famous par-3 17th at TPC Sawgrass, however, the three-hole playoff was all but decided. McIlroy found the green, but Spaun flew it and landed in the water. He made 6, and McIlroy won the tournament a hole later.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was never thinking anything other than 8-iron,\u201d Spaun said afterwards. \u201c\u2026 Even after Rory hit 9, he\u2019s easily a club longer than me. I don\u2019t know if I flighted it too well, but it just went through the wind. I couldn\u2019t even tell where it was going to be. I didn\u2019t know what to tell it, like sit, go. If anything I was leaning more towards go. But it was a great shot. It was probably six, seven feet left of the pin, just perfect if it was the right distance. I couldn\u2019t believe it was long.\u201d<\/p>\n

A few weeks later at the Masters, Spaun and Nico Echavarria were tied at the Masters Par-3 Contest. Sure, the annual Wednesday event is for fun, but they still hold a playoff to decide the winner. Spaun was making his way back to the Par-3 Course for the playoff when he crossed paths with McIlroy, who was leaving the range.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Rory\u2019s] like, \u2018Are you doing a playoff for the Par-3 Contest?’\u201d Spaun said on Subpar. \u201cI\u2019m like, yeah, I guess. And he\u2019s like, \u2018Better get the club right this time.’\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat hurt, that hit me deep,\u201d Spaun said, smiling. \u201cShane Lowry was there, he\u2019s like, \u2018F\u2014ing hell, Rory.\u2019 Granted, it was a little rinky-dink par-3, but doesn\u2019t matter, but it was still a little too soon to hear that. [The wound] was not healed yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spaun\u2019s tone proved he wasn\u2019t holding any grudge, and he can laugh about it now anyway (although he didn\u2019t win that playoff either). After all, he gave this interview with the U.S. Open trophy sitting next to him<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can listen to the complete Subpar interview with Spaun here<\/a> or watch it on YouTube<\/a> below.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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