McIlroy fumes at intrusive snapper

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  • September 7, 2009

Rory McIlroy was left fuming by a photographer he believes wrecked his hopes of shooting a career low 62.

Rory McIlroy was left fuming on Sunday by photographer he believes wrecked his hopes of shooting a career low 62. – and possibly even going top of the European Tour’s Order of Merit .
The 20-year-old needed a closing birdie for a nine-under-par 62 on the last day of the Omega European Masters and was up into a tie for third after starting the day 34th.
“He was annoying me even before I hit the shot and then he clicked a bit too early,” said McIlroy after pushing his three-wood into trouble on the right of the 18th fairway and bogeying the hole for a 64.
The Northern Irishman does not have happy memories of the 18th hole at Crans-Montana.
He also dropped a shot there to fall into a play-off last year and then missed an 18-inch putt on the same green when he and Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin went into a sudden death play-off.
It is the second time this season that a Tour star has cursed a cameraman.
Ian Poulter went into a lake at the French Open in July when he was trying to catch the leaders.
“It’s been happening all week,” added McIlroy. “When you come to places like this some of the photographers don’t know golf.
“I thought if I could get another birdie I might have half a chance of winning. But it wasn’t to be.”
He needed victory to move from third to first on the ‘Race to Dubai’ standings.
After opening with a 10-foot eagle putt he added seven birdies, but there were also three bogeys on his card.
“I holed a lot more putts, but I’ve probably walked off a bit disappointed,” he added.

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