When Rory McIlroy hands out golfing advice, you listen – even if it hurts to hear.
And some constructive words from the Northern Irishman definitely made an impact on J.J. Spaun, which he can now look back on and laugh.
Spaun and McIlroy came up against each other at the 2025 Players Championship in March.
The 51st edition was being held at TPC Sawgrass and the pair couldn’t be separated after three rounds, both finished on -12.
A three-hole aggregate playoff would decide the winner and it was McIlroy after the American made 6 on the par-3 17th after hitting the water.
“I was never thinking anything other than 8-iron,” Spaun said afterwards.
“Even after Rory hit 9 – he’s easily a club longer than me. I don’t know if I flighted it too well, but it just went through the wind. I couldn’t even tell where it was going to be. I didn’t 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’t believe it was long.”
And McIlroy didn’t forget it.
Asked on the Subpar podcast, Spaun was asked whether he’d been given any advice ahead of a playoff before.
The 34-year-old swore and then laughed. “I have.”
Just weeks later at The Masters, he tied the Par-3 contest with Nicolas Echavarria, leading to another playoff.
GettyMcIlroy beat Spaun at the PLAYERS Championship in Florida before handing out some cheeky advice[/caption]And as he was making his way back to the course he passed McIlroy – who hadn’t forgotten their tussle at TPC Sawgrass.
Spaun continued: “[Rory’s] like, ‘Are you doing a playoff for the Par-3 Contest?’
“I’m like, yeah, I guess. And he’s like, ‘Better get the club right this time.’”
“That hurt, that hit me deep,” Spaun said with a laugh and a smile.
“Shane Lowry was there, he’s like, ‘F****** hell, Rory.’ Granted, it was a little rinky-dink par-3, but doesn’t matter, but it was still a little too soon to hear that. [The wound] was not healed yet.”
Luckily for Spaun, any demons he had would be well and truly exorcised in June when he won the US Open.
Spaun knew McIlroy was joking with him and had the last laugh by winning the US OpenGOLF's SubparAnd since then, he’s revelled in the respect he’s now shown on and off the course.
“It’s been a complete 180. I’ve been out here for eight, nine years now, and you see the same guys but you notice a little bit of change in tone or I guess more of like respect,” he said.
“You earn some respect out here, especially from the top guys. They engage a little bit more with you. Not that they are different with other players, but you kind of feel you’re at a different level now, winning a Major.
“It feels good to earn that respect from my peers, and obviously the greatest players that are out here acknowledging me and making me feel like I belong, which is huge for confidence and huge for self-belief.
“It’s nice to be out here and that confidence goes a long way, whether it’s off the course or on the course. The reception and the fans and spectators, it’s been incredible.
“I still can’t fathom every time someone congratulates me for winning the US Open. It’s still a pinch-me moment that it’s something that I did do.
“It’s very cool, and I’m completely honoured to earn the respect from the other players and the fans and audience as well.”
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