Demand for lifetime ban for golf fan over what he did to McIlroy throughout Masters collapse

Rory McIlroy endured a day he will want to forget at Augusta yesterday, but few will forget the strange thing which was shouted at the Northern Irishman by a patron

Golf enthusiasts are demanding a lifetime ban for a Masters spectator at Augusta after they yelled “Give me back my son” following Rory McIlroy’s tee shot. A tumultuous third round in Georgia will be remembered for McIlroy squandering an unprecedented lead.

The reigning champion embarked on the third round with a record six-shot advantage, but the Northern Irishman could only manage a round of 73, having posted scores of 65 and 67 in the preceding two rounds. Alongside McIlroy’s inability to replicate his earlier brilliance, Cameron Young of the USA also delivered a stunning round of 65 which propelled him to joint-first alongside the Holywood star.

Amidst the major talking points, numerous golf fans on social media expressed their anger at a patron shouting out as McIlroy commenced the 17th hole.

After McIlroy drove a shot down the fairway, one spectator yelled “Give me back my son”, seemingly referencing Mel Gibson’s popular 1996 film Ransom. This shout has been heard at many other golf events over the years.

In 2023, a fan shouted this on the 4th tee of LIV Golf’s event in London after six-time major winner Phil Mickelson drove his ball. Spectators yelling phrases like “Give me back my son”, “mashed potato” and “get in the bunker” are regularly heard at Ryder Cup events and other PGA Tour, DP World and LIV events.

However, at Augusta, which is renowned for its stringent etiquette regulations and focus on dignity and respect, golf spectators were incensed. One posted: “That is disgusting behaviour, especially for Augusta National.”

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Another commented: “This is just totally unacceptable, what an idiot. Ban whoever said that for life,” while another penned: “Get this guy off the premises immediately.”

Across social media, it was widely reported the spectator who shouted was swiftly removed from Augusta. It has also been suggested they will probably be prohibited from attending any future events at the prestigious venue.

McIlroy has not remarked on the incident and will probably not reference it at any stage going forward. Nevertheless, he did confess he still feels relaxed about his prospects of defending his title, despite surrendering the lead.

He said: “I would have wanted to be in a better position going into tomorrow starting with a six-shot lead, but I still have a great chance. I’m in the final group, which is exactly where you want to be.

“I wish I had a little bit more of a cushion, but I’m going to go to the range here and try to figure it out. I’ll need to be better tomorrow.

“I still have a great chance but if I’m going to win tomorrow, I’m going to have to be a little bit better than I was today.”