“I wasn’t aware” – Rory McIlroy reacts to being handed a two-stroke penalty for an illegal drop at Pebble Beach

Modified Feb 02, 2024 07:45 GMT

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am - Round One — Rory McIlroy (Image via Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy reacted to receiving a two-stroke penalty in the first round of the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Thursday, February 1. During the opening round of the PGA Tour tournament, the Northern Irish golfer ran into a tough situation on the par-5 seventh hole at the Spyglass Hill Golf Course.

As McIlroy hit the ball, it landed in thick grass. However, instead of taking relief, he decided to take the shot. He dropped the ball one club-length to the side, which resulted in a two-stroke penalty.

Golfers were able to move the ball within their club length up until last year, but in January 2023, that rule was altered, and moving the ball within that length is now considered a penalty. McIlroy took the shot, which earned him a two-stroke penalty, meaning he finished with a triple bogey on the seventh hole.

Following the conclusion of the first round, McIlroy revealed to the media that he was not aware that the rule was changed last year.

The Northern Irishman said (via PGA Tour):

"So I took an unplayable on 7 and I took it back on-line. Then unbeknownst to me, the rule changed in January 2023 where you used to be able to come back on-line, take a club length either side. That was changed in 2019 to be able to do that.

"I wasn't aware that that rule was changed again in 2023, so I took a drop thinking of the 2019 rules when everything was sort of changed, not knowing that the rule was changed again in 2023, so got a two-stroke penalty there," he added.

McIlroy made six birdies, two bogeys, and one triple bogey in the first round of the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and settled for a score of 1-under-71. He finished in a tie for 39th position with Cameron Young, Chris Kirk, Sam Ryder, Nick Taylor, Tom Kim, Davis Riley, Nick Hardy, Tom Hoge, Alex Noran, and Byeong-Hun An.

When will Rory McIlroy tee off on Friday at the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am?

The second round of the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am will take place on Friday, February 2. Golfers will tee off at 11:45 a.m. ET on Pebble Beach Country Course and Spyglass Hill Golf Course.

On Friday, McIlroy will start his game on the first tee hole at Pebble Beach Country Course. He will tee off at 12:45 p.m. ET with Ludvig Aberg.

Here are the tee times for the second round of the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am event (all-time in ET):

Pebble Beach

1st tee