Rory McIlroy’s attempt to start a Moving Day charge on Saturday at the Travelers Championship was temporarily delayed by a spectator, albeit a four-legged one who was allowed inside the ropes.
Beginning the day three shots back of the 36-hole leader, Brian Harman, McIlroy was in good position heading into the weekend after rounds of 64 and 69 on Thursday and Friday. Shortly after being announced, McIlroy went through his pre-shot routine and addressed the ball when a squirrel scampered across the tee box and into his line of sight.
After a brief moment in the spotlight, the squirrel appeared to have left the teeing area, only to be confined by the grandstands and hundreds of people and returned to the tee. Some shooing from McIlroy’s caddie got the squirrel off of the tee for the second time and McIlroy again addressed the ball.
Committed this time, McIlroy made his swing, but not before the furry spectator again made a dash back towards the tee, this time in the left rough. The resulting tee shot missed right and the four-time major champion would go on to bogey the hole. He would shoot a 1-under par 69.
Rory McIlroy's 17 missed putts inside 10 feet this week; tied for 2nd-most in his PGA Tour career.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) June 24, 2018
McIlroy finished the tournament with a good final round — although it was one that could have been much better had his putter cooperated — to notch a T12 finish.
