Masters heckler risks lifetime ban after shouting 'give me back my son' at struggling Rory McIlroy

Ed Griffiths
Sun, 12 Apr 2026 13:26:25 +0000

A spectator at the Masters faces the prospect of a lifetime ban from Augusta after disrupting Rory McIlroy's third round with an ill-timed outburst.

As the 36-year-old Northern Irishman prepared to strike his tee shot on the 17th hole, a voice from the gallery yelled, "Give me back my son", while the ball was mid-flight.

The distraction appeared to affect McIlroy's concentration, with his shot veering into the trees.

Augusta National maintains notoriously strict standards of spectator behaviour.

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Stewards were likely to have moved quickly to locate and remove the individual responsible.

The incident was captured on live coverage.

McIlroy had entered Saturday's play holding a commanding six-stroke advantage over the field, having dominated the opening two days at Augusta.

However, the defending champion's form deserted him during a turbulent third round, as his substantial cushion completely disappeared.

By the end of play, the Northern Irishman found himself tied with American Cameron Young, setting up a tense final day at the first major of the season.

McIlroy is attempting to achieve something no golfer has managed since Tiger Woods claimed consecutive Green Jackets in 2001 and 2002, having won his fifth major title at Augusta last year after an 11-year wait.

The phrase shouted at McIlroy is a memorable line from Mel Gibson in the 1996 kidnapping thriller Ransom.

Over the years, it has become one of several popular heckles heard at golf tournaments.

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Other calls include "baba booey" and "mashed potatoes" as favoured spectator shouts.

Such outbursts are firmly discouraged at Augusta, which takes a dim view of any conduct that breaches its exacting standards of etiquette.

While it remains unconfirmed whether the individual responsible will receive a permanent ban from the venue, the tournament's reputation for enforcing strict behavioural codes suggests consequences are likely.

Augusta National enforces a comprehensive set of regulations governing spectator conduct, extending to dress requirements such as collared shirts and caps worn facing forwards, as well as a prohibition on running.

Mobile phone use is strictly forbidden, a rule that even caught out former Open champion Mark Calcavecchia, who was ejected from the grounds for using his device.

Justin Rose's caddie, Mark Fulcher, also took matters into his own hands during Saturday's third round, reportedly admonishing a group of noisy spectators.

McIlroy heads into Sunday's final round alongside other major contenders, including Scottie Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood and Jon Rahm.