'I Was Going Ape S***' - Full Swing Sheds Light On How Pros Reacted To US Open Controversy

The second episode of the new series finds Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler up in arms about the fading light at the 2023 Major

Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler after the 2023 US Open
Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler were not happy about playing in the fading light during the US Open
(Image credit: Netflix)

With one round to go of the 2023 US Open at a Los Angeles Country Club, Wyndham Clark and Rickie Fowler shared the lead, and Rory McIlroy stood just one shot behind. That was despite the players having to contend with fading light over the closing holes of Saturday’s play.

At the time, Clark, who went on to claim victory at the Major, said: "We played twilight golf," and questioned the late tee times. Now, thanks to the second series of Full Swing, we can hear the opinions of Fowler and McIlroy on the issue in the aftermath of the controversy.

During the second episode, which focuses heavily on Fowler, the six-time PGA Tour winner says: “Who’s in charge of tee times? We played the last three holes in the dark. They don’t have the excuse of ‘oh there’s a marine layer’ because I saw in the weather that was going to be a marine layer coming in. When the 18th fairway is being lit up by the scoreboard?”

Rickie Fowler takes a shot during the third round of the 2023 US Open

Rickie Fowler had his say on the dark conditions of the final few holes of the third round of the 2023 US Open

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Then, in a scene featuring Fowler and McIlroy in the gym, the Ulsterman, who was attempting to claim his first Major title since 2014, discussed the matter with the American, saying: “Pretty dark those last few holes. Ridiculous. I was going ape s***.”

McIlroy then described how he had attempted to manage the situation along with caddie Harry Diamond. He said: “I hit it to like 20 feet the last three holes, 16, 17 and 18, and I just said to Harry, ’I don’t really know what these things are going to do, I can’t see.’ I was like ‘I’ve just got to lag these up’. It was ridiculous. I was like ‘That’s the light, that’s all that is.’

Rory McIlroy and caddie Harry Diamond in the third round of the 2023 US Open

Rory McIlroy and caddie Harry Diamond had to navigate darkness during the closing stages of the third round of the US Open 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Afterwards, Clark said the late tee times contributed to his bogey on the 17th, as well as playing partner Fowler's bogey on the 18th, with clouds gathering at around 8pm local time. He explained: “It’s a little ridiculous that we teed off that late. I would say right around hole 15 or 16 it started getting to where you couldn't see that well. I mean, I don't personally understand why we teed off - we played twilight golf.

"At the end, it was - the last two holes I 100 percent think my bogey on 17 was because I couldn't see, and I think Rickie's bogey on 18 was because he couldn't see. I'd like to see us go off an hour and a half, two hours earlier. If we had a playoff tomorrow we wouldn't even be able to play the playoff tomorrow because it was so dark."

Tee times for the final round were brought forward by 70 minutes, meaning there were no similar issues as the action drew to a close. In the event, Fowler’s bid for the trophy fell away thanks to a round of 75 that saw him finish tied for fifth, while Clark held off the challenge of McIlroy, who had to settle for runner-up as the American picked up his first Major title.

Mike Hall
News Writer

Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories. 

He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game. 

Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course. 

Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.