Rory McIlroy’s heckler slammed by Sky Sports pundit for savage taunt on Wentworth | Golf

Sky Sports pundit Wayne Riley says Rory McIlroy should hang his head in shame after a heckler slammed him on the head. The Northern Irishman was branded a ‘bottle job’ by a rowdy monthly fan at the BMW PGA Championship.

McIlroy has had a brutal run of bad luck at majors and once again triumphed at the PGA Championship. The 35-year-old was beaten to the crown by Billy Horschel, who putted for an eagle on the second play-off hole at Wentworth.

McIlroy extended a decade-long major tournament drought after losing a two-shot lead at the US Open in the summer, leaving fans wondering if the four-time major winner’s luck will ever improve.

But one of the participants at Wentworth was roundly criticised by on-field commentator Riley, who shouted: “McIlroy is a bottle job!”, drawing the pundits’ attention.

Riley was not happy with the comment and told the announcer, “Eagle, he finishes with a birdie, so the guy down there (who said McIlroy missed the ball) should hang his head in shame. McIlroy didn’t hang his head, he finished with an eagle, par.”

“If this guy is a bottle act, it’s just pure class. He was kind of out of it and back in. That’s what you get from McIlroy, you get box office, you get pure theater. He’s just a great actor, everybody loves him.

“At the end of the day we saw a great player in Tiger Woods and he was in a different stratosphere – and they expect Rory to be like that. It’s not going to happen.

“He won twice on the PGA Tour (this year), and that’s not easy to do. McIlroy is McIlroy, so everybody should leave him alone.”

McIlroy has been disappointed by his poor form this season despite being in fine form and receiving a cheque for £800,000 for his work at Wentworth, but Riley insists all will be forgiven if the world number three can win one more tournament before the end of the year.

He added: “Look, you’ll back him (to win again). He’s got three more tournaments to play. I think he’ll compete at Dunhill Links and then all of a sudden he’ll do a couple in the Middle East. He’ll win one of those, I’m sure. Then all will be forgiven.

“He had a great year. The US Open with Bryson was a little weird. Look, Rory McIlroy is Rory McIlroy and everybody should leave him alone. Bad week?! What did he make this week? $800,000? I don’t know. I’d love to be Rory McIlroy!”