PGA-LIV merger off to rocky start as four fans blinded by Rory McIlroy’s shiny, white legs
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Rory McIlroy arrived at last week’s RBC Canadian Open wearing his usual golf attire. But as he approached the driving range to warm up, he yanked off his pants, which were buttoned along the side like a basketball player’s pregame uniform.
To the relief of some – and the disappointment of others – he was wearing shorts underneath.
As opposed to the PGA Tour pre-merger, McIlroy hadn’t broken any rules. Under the sport’s new structure, golfers are permitted to wear shorts during tournaments, which was a luxury previously only afforded to players on the LIV Tour.
But sportswriters haven’t been spilling much ink over the new rulebook. Instead, what has the golf community’s attention is the fact that McIlroy’s legs were so white that they blinded four fans.
Specifically, the glisten from his legs shined off the clubhouse windows and ricocheted directly into the eyes of spectators standing near the practice green. “It had been so long since I wore shorts at a golf tournament,” McIlroy said. “I guess I didn’t realize how pale my legs had become. I feel awful about the pain and suffering I’ve caused.”
Liam Cloutier, an ophthalmologist in Toronto, said it’s a good thing the tournament was held in Canada or else the damage could have been much worse. “Canadians are accustomed to seeing extremely white skin,” he said. “That’s why most fans remained unphased or experienced very mild effects. Unfortunately, the four victims just happened to be standing in direct line of the reflection.”
Medical professionals thought they had the situation contained until one of the blinded fans wandered aimlessly down the first fairway and was struck on the forehead by a 325-yard tee shot. He remains hospitalized.