Rory McIlroy fury at The Open forces golf commentator into awkward apology

Rory McIlroy let slip an expletive on live television during The Open, leading to a swift apology from Sky Sports. The Northern Irish golfer, vying for a second Claret Jug in front of his home crowd, couldn't hide his disappointment following an errant approach shot on the par-4 15th hole.

His visible frustration led commentators to quickly issue an on-air apology. The moment occurred during his second round alongside Ryder Cup team-mate Tommy Fleetwood and ex-world number one Justin Thomas.

After delivering a stellar drive off the 15th tee, McIlroy's second shot fell short and trickled away from the green, prompting the outburst.

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"Ahh, I [inaudible] the f*** out of it," McIlroy was overheard saying, as microphones near the green captured the comment.

Sky Sports commentator Laura Davies reacted, saying: "That's a mistake, such a shame after the tee shot gave him the shot where he can hit spin. You'd have thought he might have tried to land it just beyond it, but that's not an easy up and down, though very doable for him, he's so good."

Her colleague Andrew Coltart added: "An apology for the language from Rory earlier on."

McIlroy, who claimed the career Grand Slam with a dramatic playoff victory at the Masters earlier in the year, is facing massive pressure at Royal Portrush, the site where he famously posted a course record 61 as a teenager in 2005.

He has previously spoken about the emotional strain of competing at home, particularly after a disappointing missed cut at this venue in 2019, where his opening hole triple bogey derailed his chances early.

This year, he entered the tournament in strong form, having tied for second at the Genesis Scottish Open, narrowly losing out to Chris Gotterup.

Though not lighting up the leaderboard, McIlroy's game has been consistent so far. After managing the difficult first-round conditions well, he followed up with a respectable 69 in round two to remain within striking distance.

Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1 and recent PGA Championship victor, is also in contention alongside Brian Harman, while defending champ Xander Schauffele and 2019 winner Shane Lowry are also chasing behind.

Still, McIlroy remains a beloved figure among fans hoping he can lift a sixth major trophy - and a first Claret Jug since 2014.

With the final rounds still to play, McIlroy's challenge will be balancing his drive with the heavy expectations. All eyes in Portrush are watching to see if his fire can fuel a memorable victory on home soil.