Rory McIlroy smashes tee box marker to pieces in explosive tantrum at Bay Hill

Rory McIlroy was seen smashing a tee box marker to pieces on the 8th hole in the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at famed Bay Hill.

McIlroy had just bogeyed the 7th as he stood aboard the tee box at the par-4 8th, and he was clearly frustrated with how his round was panning out with a lack of birdies made. 

Within seconds of letting fly with his TaylorMade Qi10 Fairway Wood, McIlroy hated the direction his ball was headed.

As the ball was in the air, McIlroy looked down at the left tee box marker and motioned as if he was about to hurl his club straight into it. 

He then did it again. 

As the camera picked out McIlroy's ball in the rough, we then heard a loud smash. 

McIlroy had taken out the right tee box marker as he trudged over to his golf bag. 

The tee box was smashed to pieces, as you can see in the video below. 

WATCH RORY MCILROY SMASH A TEE BOX MARKER TO PIECES AT BAY HILL

Rory threatens the left tee marker but ends up taking out the right @NoLayingUp pic.twitter.com/hrbgtAHSc0

— Jackson Wright (@JacksonWright_1) March 9, 2024

McIlroy went on to bogey the 8th to go out in 2-over par, but he composed himself on the back nine by rolling home six birdies to move to 5-under par for the tournament. 

That saw McIlroy move to within four shots of the lead heading into the final round.

McIlroy became the first player since 2003 to drive the par-4 10th at Bay Hill in the third round - WATCH HERE

McIlroy is still going in search of his first PGA Tour title since the Genesis Scottish Open last July.

The Northern Irishman has not been on his A-game so far this season but he will be hoping that changes over the coming weeks as he bids to complete the career grand slam at The Masters from 11-14 April.

VIEW LIVE SCORES FROM THE ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL HERE

What do you make of Rory McIlroy's game right now? Will he win The Masters? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.

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