Rory McIlroy Receives Hilarious Challenge From Novak Djokovic Over Masters Jacket

Rory McIlroy flexed the Masters green jacket by wearing it on Wednesday during his trip to the Royal Box at Wimbledon.

Rory McIlroy Receives Hilarious Challenge From Novak Djokovic Over Masters Jacket

Rory McIlroy and Novak Djokovic (Image via Imago/X/@LaureusSport/X/@TheTennisLetter)

On Wednesday, several European golfers, including Rory McIlroy, were present in the Royal Box at Wimbledon and watched Novak Djokovic take on Stefanos Tsitsipas. After the Serbian claimed another victory, he issued a hilarious challenge to McIlroy over the Masters Jacket.

McIlroy, the 6-time major champion, was seen sporting the coveted green jacket, which is awarded to the winners of the Masters Tournament. Earlier this year, the Northern Irishman scripted history following his iconic victory at Augusta National Golf Club.

He entered the tournament as the defending champion, having finally won the event in 2025. As he overcame his demons at Augusta, he completed the career grand slam and became just the 6th golfer to win all 4 majors.

Despite a valiant effort from World No.1 Scottie Scheffler in the final round this year, he was unable to claim his 3rd Masters win. McIlroy kept his composure and edged him out by 1 shot to repeat as Masters Tournament champion.

He became just the 4th person after Jack Nicklaus (1965, 1966), Nick Faldo (1989, 1990), and Tiger Woods (2001, 2002) to go back-to-back in this event. For years, McIlroy chased this title and suffered several heartbreaks. Now, he has won this event twice.

The Masters Tournament has a special ceremony. The previous year’s winner is the one who puts the green jacket on the new winner. Since McIlroy won in 2025, he received the jacket this year from Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley.

Since his victory in 2025, McIlroy has often flexed the green jacket. This action of his has caught the eyes of several people, with many social media users criticizing him.

On Wednesday, Novak Djokovic was the one who eyed the green jacket. The former tennis World No.1 challenged the former golf World No.1 for a match with the jacket as a prize. Instead of golf, the 39-year-old challenged him to his speciality and called him out for a game of tennis.

Rory, what a beautiful jacket. Is that a Masters jacket? It must be. Round of applause for Rory for Masters, please. I want that jacket! I’ll play you. This jacket for that jacket. We play tennis, no golf.

Novak Djokovic told Rory McIlroy

Djokovic is someone who has been an inspiration for McIlroy. Last year, before the Ryder Cup in New York, the World No.2 urged his teammates to take a leaf out of his book and learn how he handles himself when the crowd is against him. The tennis great had also met the team during the Ryder Cup in Rome in 2023.

McIlroy did face some huge heckling from the crowd at Bethpage Course. Things got out of hand when a fan hurled a beer cup at his wife, Erica Stoll. In the end, Europe won the tournament again. After the event, the golfer received an apology email from PGA CEO Derek Sprague over the intense abuse.

RELATED
LIV Golf Star Sergio Garcia Blames Food After Failing to Qualify for 2026 Open Championship

Rory McIlroy will not face punishment from the PGA Tour despite not playing a minimum of 15 events this year

Rory McIlroy has skipped a lot of events this year. As a result of this, he will likely not cross the minimum requirement of 15 events this year. Despite that, he will not face any punishment.

Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy (Image via X/@TheMasters)

So far this year, McIlroy has only made 9 appearances on the PGA Tour. If a golfer fails to play in a minimum of 15 events, they are penalized. The penalty is a 1-year suspension.

This has happened twice before. Seve Ballesteros was suspended in 1986. Martin Kaymer lost his PGA Tour card for the 2015-16 season after appearing in just 13 events. McIlroy is currently scheduled to make 13-14 appearances this year.

So he will be below the required amount. However, McIlroy will not face any sort of action. This is because a foreign member can apply for medical reasons that would see the required number come down.

The commissioner, upon application by a foreign member and for medical reasons or other extraordinary circumstances that the commissioner, at his discretion, determines to be a valid reason for not playing in at least 15 PGA Tour cosponsored or approved tournaments, may reduce the 15-minimum (or 12-minimum as the case may be) tournament requirement.

PGA Tour rules stated

McIlroy did suffer an injury during the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. He withdrew from the signature event before the 3rd round on Saturday due to back spasms.

So far, McIlroy has made the cut in all 9 events he has played (withdrew after making the cut at API). His last appearance came at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, where he finished T32 with scores of 69-71-73-73.

Also Read: