Rory McIlroy faced brutal mockery from rival TGL team New York Golf Club after missing a short putt during Monday night's match.
The Northern Irishman's Boston Common team suffered a 10-6 defeat, with New York's social media team quick to reference his painful US Open collapse at Pinehurst last June.
After McIlroy missed what appeared to be a routine putt early in the match, New York posted a clip with the caption: "Didn't know we were playing Pinehurst..."
The jibe referred to McIlroy's heartbreaking missed putts at the 2024 US Open that cost him his first major title since 2014.
Rory McIlroy was brutally trolled for a missed putt
ESPN
Boston Common's defeat confirmed their elimination from playoff contention after failing to win a single match in the regular season.
McIlroy, alongside teammates Adam Scott and Keegan Bradley, were beaten by New York's formidable trio of Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler and Cameron Young.
With the score tied at 0-0, McIlroy's missed putt set the tone for a disappointing evening.
New York secured their playoff berth with a clever tactical play, using 'The Hammer' to double points with four holes remaining.
This decisive move helped them pull away for a comfortable 10-6 victory, leaving McIlroy's team with a winless 0-4-1 record in the innovative new league.
The reference to Pinehurst struck a particularly painful chord for McIlroy, who suffered a devastating collapse in the final round of the US Open.
Leading by two shots with just five holes to play, McIlroy missed two crucial short putts - one from two-and-a-half feet on the 16th and another from less than four feet on the 18th.
He bogeyed three of the final four holes, allowing Bryson DeChambeau to claim his second US Open title.
McIlroy left Pinehurst without speaking to the media, his decade-long major drought continuing in heartbreaking fashion.
The social media jibe from New York reopened that wound during Monday's TGL match.
Rory McIlroy helped found the NFL alongside Tiger Woods
ESPN
Despite the disappointing results, McIlroy remained positive about his experience in the league he co-founded with Tiger Woods.
"It's been a lot of fun being in here, competing against the best players in the world, competing with some of the best players in the world," he said.
McIlroy expressed pride in seeing the concept come to life.
"I've been a part of this from when it was just an idea and to see it come to life this year and see the reception to it, that's been really cool and something I'm very proud of."
The four-team playoff will now feature Atlanta Drive, The Bay, Los Angeles and New York Golf Club.
Didn't know we were playing Pinehurst... pic.twitter.com/K26EDF2Pu7
— New York Golf Club (@nygolfclub) March 4, 2025
McIlroy wasn't the only TGL founder to miss out on the playoffs, as Tiger Woods' Jupiter Links GC team also failed to advance following New York's victory.
The Northern Irishman will now turn his attention back to the PGA Tour, where he is set to compete in this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando.
McIlroy previously won the prestigious event in 2018.
He enters the tournament in good form, having already claimed victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last month.
The 35-year-old will be hoping to put his TGL disappointment behind him as he continues his 2025 season.
