Rory McIlroy blasted for not shouting ‘fore!’ after hitting three fans on wild day at Wentworth

RORY McILROY admitted his golf needed a health warning as he was blasted for not shouting fore after hitting THREE onlookers at Wentworth.

The former world No 1 was savaged on social media after the worst of the three episodes, when his drive at the 18th crashed into the crowd and left a female spectator with blood streaming down her face.

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Twitter users claimed he had not yelled fore because he knew his ball was headed out of bounds if it was not stopped by the galleries, and called for him to be hit with a heavy fine.

But McIlroy denied that was the case, saying he had no idea his three wood into the wind would reach the crowds, because he felt they were out of range.

He said: “It was 275 yards with the wind against us to reach the bunker in front of the spectators, so I didn’t think it would reach them.

“I thought it was going to pitch into the bunker, but obviously that wasn’t the case. I didn’t think anyone was in any danger, and that’s why I didn’t shout fore.”

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“It is really upsetting when you hit anyone, but we are not going to hit the ball perfectly every time and unfortunately those things happen.

“When you see someone covered in blood like that lady on the last hole it shakes you. But she assured me she was OK.

“It’s never nice. All you can do is say sorry and give them a signed glove, and hope they will be well enough to be out there enjoying the golf tomorrow.

Asked whether the packed galleries were pushing too close to the fairways to try to get a better view he replied: “They were the way I was hitting it today!

“People are in danger sometimes. Thankfully I haven’t hit many people during my career, and hopefully I don’t hit any tomorrow.”

McIlroy hit another female spectator on the sixth hole after trying to hack his ball out of a bush.

It was hard to lay any blame on him for that one, as he had tried to push the crowds back as far as possible, knowing it was impossible to predict how his ball would emerge.

It flew out sideways, even though a young boy did his best to help by trying to pull the bushes back behind McIlroy’s back!

But he should have shouted when his ball flew towards the out of bounds area to the left of the 17th hole and hit a marshall.

To make matters worse, playing partner Sam Horsfield hit the same marshall, also without shouting fore.

McIlroy had enjoyed the calm conditions at Wentworth for the first 36 holes, and charged into a three shot lead at 12 under par. But it was a different story on a wild and windy third day.

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He dropped a shot on the third hole and lost the lead when his first venture into the crowds on the sixth hole cost him a double bogey.

But after falling three shots behind Francesco Molinari, McIlroy managed to birdie all three par fives on the back nine – with a little help from the crowds, who must have wished they were wearing hard hats.

The four-time Major winner added: “I don’t know if it’s just the fact that the crowds are quite close to the fairways here – that’s what I’ll put it down to. But I have to admit I got lucky today.

“I got very fortunate and I got good bounces off spectators and I made the most of it. I made the most of my luck today and rode my luck a little bit and I’m just going to have to play better tomorrow to have a chance.”

McIlroy managed to salvage a one under par 71 to join Molinari on 13 under par, after the Italian ace shot a best of the day 66.

They have a four shot cushion over the rest of the field. And with storms and more strong winds forecast today, spectators heading to Wentworth are advised to wear cushions themselves or some other kind of padding, as well as crash helmets.