Rory McIlroy forced to fetch soaking golf club after launching it in temper

Things were not going to plan

The Ulsterman lost his cool on the 17^th as he hit his tee shot wide right and as he watched the ball drift into the rough McIlroy threw his driver.

The club took one bounce on the immaculately cut tee box before landing in the water with a splash.

McIlroy’s attention turned back to the ball as he watched it land before making his way to the water’s edge to fish out the driver.

The 35-year-old passed it to his caddie who dried it off with a towel.

On the hole before, the 16^th, McIlroy bogeyed the par-3 to take him back to 1-under for the round.

The 17^th is a par-5, reachable in two shots so his wide shot will have further infuriated McIlroy.

However, the four-time major winner did par the hole as well as the 18^th, to record a 71. On Thursday, he recorded a round of 70. He finished the day yesterday 10 shots behind the leader Adam Scott.

It’s been a rollercoaster of a year for McIlroy who finished tied-68^th at the FedEx St Jude Championship following his difficulties at The Open, which saw him fail to make the cut. However, he did register a fifth-place finish at the Olympics in between those events.

He finished second at Pinehurst No. 2 after missing two agonising putts in the closing stages, handing the title to Bryson DeChambeau on a plate.

Afterwards he announced he was taking a short break from the sport. He said: “Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest I've had in my 17 years as a professional golfer.

“I'm going to take a few weeks away from the game to process everything and build myself back up.”

He then returned to compete in the Genesis Scottish Open.

McIlroy has two rounds left at the BMW Championships as he tries to make something special happen.