Rory McIlroy's Taunt of JJ Spaun Leaves Shane Lowry in Disbelief

Newsweek

11-07-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Rory McIlroy is not known for throwing shade, but when he does, even fellow major champions freeze.
Unfortunately, J.J. Spaun found that out the hard way when the 5-time major winner delivered a savage line that even had Shane Lowry swearing under his breath in disbelief.
The moment traced back to the 2025 Players Championship, where McIlroy edged Spaun in a tense playoff. That thin margin win came after Spaun appeared to peek into Rory's bag to check his club selection.
That may have lingered, and McIlroy hasn't forgotten. It was more clear when Spaun visited the Subpar Golf Podcast hosted by Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz, where things got unexpectedly spicy.
Rory McIlroy's taunt of JJ Spaun during the Masters' Par 3 playoff contest leaves Shane Lowry in Disbelief. (Image Collage | Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy's taunt of JJ Spaun during the Masters' Par 3 playoff contest leaves Shane Lowry in Disbelief. (Image Collage | Getty Images)
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Rory McIlroy Takes Sharp Dig at JJ Spaun
When Stoltz asked the reigning U.S. Open champion, "Have you ever received any words of wisdom from Rory McIlroy before the start of a playoff?"
Spaun couldn't contain himself. He laughed hard, then blurted, "You f***ing..."
The reaction caught Stoltz off guard. "What? I'm just curious—I feel like... I don't know." Spaun finally composed himself and admitted, "I have."
He recalled a moment at the Masters Par 3 Contest earlier this year when he crossed paths with McIlroy leaving the range.
"We're kind of crossing paths and he's [Rory McIlroy] like, 'Are you doing a playoff for the par 3 contest?' I was like, 'Yeah, I guess.'
"He's [Rory McIlroy] like, 'Better get the club right this time.'"
The jab stunned the hosts. Knost groaned, "Ugh," then added, "Shots fired." Stoltz, on the other hand, chimed in, "Too soon, Rors."
"That hit me deep," Spaun admitted a few seconds later. But he wasn't the only one floored.
"Shane Lowry was right there," Spaun revealed. "He's like, 'F***ing hell, Rory.'"
Rory McIlroy opened up a fresh wound when he gave J.J. Spaun some par 3 competition advice at the Masters. 😂
The U.S. Open Champion joins @ColtKnost and @thesleezyman in studio for this weeks show. 👀 pic.twitter.com/iBq2hntgAC — Subpar (@golf_subpar) July 10, 2025
McIlroy's comment was a dig at Spaun's club selection during their Players playoff, where Spaun's 8-iron flew long into the water after he peeked at Rory's 9-iron.
"It was still a little too soon to hear that [from Rory]", Spaun expressed later in the podcast. That Players wound "was not healed yet," he added.
And for those wondering about that Par-3 playoff? "Did you win?" Knost asked. "No," Spaun grinned.
This week, both players are back at the Genesis Scottish Open. McIlroy sits tied for sixth entering the weekend. Meanwhile, Spaun missed the cut at 2-over par.
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