McIlroy knows this, which is why he did his best to avoid commenting on the debacle when asked about it Thursday afternoon at Sawgrass. Even for a player with a vulnerable history with the press, fanning the flames of an embarrassing-all-the-way-around story was an obvious no-go.

It was loud enough for McIlroy to hear. And he was definitely offended enough to make a stand. He walked toward Potter and his teammate, reached his arm across the rope line and said to Potter’s teammate, “Can I see your phone?” Frozen in shock, the kid let McIlroy take his phone. And away Rory went with the phone.