Golf fans convinced Rory McIlroy has no idea who Spider-Man actor Tom Holland is in awkward new clip
Millions of fans around the world are familiar with the work of actor Tom Holland, but Rory McIlroy may not be one of them.
The two crossed paths on the driving range for the BMW PGA Championship at the Wentworth Club in England, and ‘Spider-Man’ actor Holland went to him to introduce himself and call his name.
However, McIlroy replied somewhat awkwardly, “Hi Tom, how are you?” and made no mention of the actor’s work or career, leading fans to assume he didn’t know the movie star.
“Rory doesn’t know who Tom Holland is,” said one fan on X.
“Rory has no idea who Tom Holland is. Not a bad swing though!” said another, referring to the end of the clip where Holland is seen throwing a ball.
Tom Holland introduced himself to Rory McIlroy, but fans were convinced the golfer didn’t recognize the world-famous actor
McIlroy speaks to media at the Wentworth Club ahead of the BMW PGA Championship
“Rory is over the moon and doesn’t realize this is Spiderman,” a third fan laughed.
McIlroy may not have recognized Holland, but others certainly did, as he was photographed at one point signing autographs for young fans.
The 35-year-old Northern Irishman surprised the world when he filed for divorce from his wife of seven years in May, just days before the start of the PGA Championship.
The four-time major winner shocked golf fans even further when he did an about-face a month later and called off his divorce from Erica, 36, ahead of this year’s US Open, saying their “best future is as a family together.”
He later announced that he would take a short sabbatical due to the implosion of his US Open and his divorce drama. He returned to the court in July for the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open Championship.
Holland played in a Pro-Am before the BMW PGA Championship started on Thursday
He signed some autographs for some young fans while on the course at Wentworth Club
Speaking to Patrick Kielty on the Irish chat show ‘Late Late’ this week, McIlroy said he had taken the break to rediscover ‘what was really important to me.’
“I think life can get to be a lot sometimes and it can get to be too much,” he said. “A lot has happened this year, golf-wise and obviously personally. I had to take a little break and step away from the game more than anything,” he told Kielty.
‘Golf and the golf business has become everything to me over the last few years and I needed to take some time out to realise what was really important to me. Friends, family, enjoying myself, enjoying the fact that you were this little boy in Holywood and you’ve grown up to be what I am and I need to enjoy that time.’
McIlroy starts his weekend at 3:40 a.m. ET (8:40 a.m. local time).