Does the PGA Tour have a drinking problem? Rory McIlroy apparently believes so.
It’s not the golfers themselves who McIlroy believes need to cut back on the booze, however. No, the 28-year-old thinks its the fans who are throwing back a few-too many.
After Saturday’s third round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, McIlroy wondered whether the PGA should do something to combat what he perceives to be an increase in abusive fan behavior. His suggestion should prove divisive: Limit alcohol sales at PGA events.
“There was one guy out there who kept yelling my wife’s name,” McIlroy said, via ESPN’s Bob Harig. “I was going to go over and have a chat with him. I don’t know, I think it’s gotten a little much, to be honest.
“I think that they need to limit alcohol sales on the course, or they need to do something because every week, it seems like guys are complaining about it more and more.”
McIlroy also wondered whether liquor, more so than beer, is the real issue.
“I know that people want to come and enjoy themselves, and I’m all for that, but it’s when the comments get personal and people get a little bit rowdy it can get a little much,” McIlroy said. “It used to be you bring beers on the course but not liquor. And now it seems like everyone’s walking around with a cocktail. So I don’t know if it’s just go back to people walking around with beers in their hand, that’s fine, but I don’t know.”
At the end of the day, McIlroy seemingly just wants a golf event to have a more traditional atmosphere, rather than one akin to something you’d see in “Happy Gilmore.”
” … Golf is different than a football game, and there’s etiquette involved, and you don’t want people to be put off from bringing their kids when people are shouting stuff out,” he said. “You want people to enjoy themselves, have a good day.”
Does McIlroy have a point? Probably. But it’s hard to envision the PGA doing anything to curb the recent spike in fan interest, which largely has been fueled by a resurgent Tiger Woods.
