Rory McIlroy appears to flinch when awkwardly touched by reporter – but fans suspect something else

Rory McIlroy reacted as on-course reporter Kathryn Tappen extended her arm while interviewing the four-time major champion at The Match IX during the TNT broadcast

Golf fans are speculating about the reason behind the uncomfortable moment during an interview with Rory McIlroy at The Match IX.

McIlroy, aged 34, was giving an interview to on-course reporter Kathryn Tappen at The Park golf course in Florida when the incident took place.

While Tappen was asking another question, she reached her arm out towards the four-time major champion and he instinctively moved back before responding.

Tappen, notably, is holding a cue card in her left hand – and the microphone in her right – while gesturing with that arm out behind McIlroy. The world number two also has the hood of his lightweight hoodie off-centre over his right shoulder, which somewhat realigns after the flinch.

It is these aspects golf fans have highlighted as the likely explanation for the seemingly awkward situation. “I bet she poked him with her notecard, and he thought it was a bug or something,” one Reddit user remarked.

“I think her comment card grazed him, and he got the chills for a second,” another concurred. One more said matter-of-factly: “I watched this live (and) had to play it back a few times. She never touched him. The corner of her card poked his arm or back, and he jumped.”

Others highlighted the hoodie he was wearing, and suggested it wasn’t the first time he’d flinched like that. “Isn’t he just trying to shake his hoodie off his shoulder?” one pontificated while another added: “He was doing that the entire night to get his hoodie to hang back.”

Regardless, McIlroy shook off that moment to win the ninth edition of the exhibition match play challenge against PGA Tour rival Max Homa plus LPGA Tour pair Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang. The world number two earned £1.26 million for charity by triumphing in a closest-to-the-pin tie-breaker during the 12-hole skins game.

“I just think [I will remember] how much fun it was, being out here with Max and Rose and Lexi and playing at such a great facility,” McIlroy said afterwards. “All these people out here, the atmosphere, it was a really cool night.

What we have noticed about the actions taken by The Park is the positive impact it has on the youth here. Many children are being given numerous chances to participate in the sport of golf, which is quite impressive.”

The West Palm Beach Golf Course, redesigned by Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner, and Dirk Ziff, reopened last year with a new nine-hole lighted course and putting course in addition to the 18-hole championship one. The main goal of the redesign was to increase access and inclusivity in the local community, as mentioned by the Northern Irishman.

The ninth edition of The Match was highlighted by its broadcast coverage, with female players Thompson and Zhang making their debut in the exhibition.

McIlroy, unlike Thompson, Zhang, and Homa, had already participated in The Match when he teamed up with Tiger Woods in the seventh edition to play against Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas in a four-ball, 12-hole event in December 2022.