RORY MCILROY snatched a heckling fans phone away and walked off with it after reacting to jeers before the Players Championship.

The spectator taunted McIlroy at Sawgrass after he hit his tee shot into the water at a par three, yelling: “Just like 2011 at Augusta.”

McIlroy notoriously choked away a 54 hole lead at the 2011 Masters, shooting an horrendous 80 in the final round to crash to 15th.

After reloading and hitting the green at Sawgrass, the world No 2 calmly walked over and asked the fan if he could see his phone.

The bizarre encounter saw the Northern Irishman walk away with the device, while looking intently at the screen.

Video of the incident was later posted on social media.

But by then McIlroy had left the course, and what became of the spectator’s phone remained a mystery.

McIlroy also memorably choked away a two-shot lead at the US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina last year.

His missed putts on the 16th and 18th holes allowed Bryson DeChambeau to win the tournament.

But McIlroy will tee off alongside fellow Major champions Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schuffele on Thursday.

The 35-year-old won his 27th PGA Tour title at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am last month,

Meanwhile, McIlroy said he does not expect Tiger Woods to play again this year after the 15-time major winner’s latest injury setback.

On Tuesday Woods, 49, had surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The American has played a reduced schedule since suffering serious leg injuries in a car crash in 2021.

He has not played in a PGA Tour event since The Open in July.

McIlroy said: “It sucks. He doesn’t have much luck when it comes to injuries and his body.

“We obviously won’t see him play golf this year, and hopefully we see him maybe play in 2026.”

McIlroy has been largely injury-free since rupturing an ankle ligament in 2015, which forced him to miss the defence of his Open title.

Speaking before the Players Championship starting on Thursday, the 35-year-old said he intends to retire with a “little bit left in the tank”.

He added: “I can acknowledge how lucky golfers are to be able to do what they do for so long compared to other athletes.

“So whenever I feel like the time is right, I’ll have no problem moving aside and letting the next generation do their thing.

“I don’t want to be out there embarrassing myself. I’d like to walk away maybe a little before I should.”