See: Rory McIlroy in a row with Jordan Spieth in the Players Championship

Rory McIlroy insists he has a “clear conscience” after two rules controversies led to a heated debate at No. 2 in the world with Jordan Spieth during the first round of the Players Championship at Sawgrass.

The PGA Tour was desperate for action inside the ropes at its £20 million main event to overshadow the ongoing Golf LIV split, but they could not have imagined a pair of penalties and what was to come between two of the biggest ones. superstars would light up social media on the opening day.

“I feel like I’m one of the most conscientious golfers out there,” McIlroy said. “If I feel I’ve done something wrong, it will play on my conscience for the rest of the tournament. I really believe in karma, and if you do something wrong, it will come around and bite you.

“Obviously I try not to do anything wrong from there, and play by the rules and do the right thing. I think I made those two drops.”

McIlroy shot a seven-under 65 with 10 birdies to take the lead over Xander Schauffele, but all people were talking about on the Stadium Course were the spectacular finishes with Spieth – usually as cooperative as the media – breaking into a near sprint to avoid media questioning after both signed their scorecards.

The back-and-forth between the two began on the 18th (ninth) when McIlroy pulled his drive into the water. Spieth questioned where McIlroy was taking his penalties, presumably suspecting that the ball had crossed the lake closer to the tee and that the Northern Irishman would have needed a much longer approach.

But this conflab, which lasted at least five minutes, was mild compared to what happened eight holes later.

On the seventh, McIlroy pulled his drive again and was disappointed when the ball ended up in another puddle. But he was sure he was bouncing on the bank above the red line that marks where the lateral water hazard begins. This allowed him to take a penalty drop two club lengths from where the ball entered.

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McIlroy checked with his two playing partners – Ryder Cup teammate Viktor Hovland was the other member of the marquee threeball – but after speaking to fans across the fairway, Spieth disputed the opinion of the world No.

“Everybody I’m hearing who’s had eyes on it — which is not important — is saying they’re 100 percent sure it landed under the red line,” Spieth said. “That’s your own opinion.”

The difference between drops would be about 250 yards – not far from the tee box – and with strength depending on the decision, the mood was getting tense. At this point McIlroy’s opponent, Harry Diamond, raised the tension even more. “Who is ‘everybody’, Jordan?” Diamond shouted. “Who are you talking about?”

A referee was called, but with no conclusive TV footage, it was left to the players to decide. Sky Sports TV analyst Wayne “Radar” Riley was with the group and believes McIlroy’s downfall was imminent. At one point during the event with Spieth, McIlroy asked if he should “split the difference”, which would have left him further behind – but that’s not really the point.

Another media observer, who spoke to Telegraph Sport but did not wish to be named, was “95 per cent of the opinion that he bounced under the line”.

McIlroy, 34, said he questioned himself.

“I guess I started to doubt myself a little bit,” McIlroy said. “I was like, ‘OK, did I see what I thought I saw’… I was comfortable, and I was just making sure Jordan and Viktor were comfortable as well. It was just a question of whether it was over the line or under, and I thought I saw it over the line.”

McIlroy was asked if he believed the close six-minute exchange was “unnecessary”. “I wouldn’t say it was unnecessary,” he replied. “Jordan wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing. It is so difficult, right, because there was no television evidence. I was determined. If anything, I was being conservative with it. I think at the end of the day we’re all trying to protect ourselves, protect the field as well.”

McIlroy and Spieth have been friends for a long time, but recently they have been in opposing camps in the LIV edition and there could be a peace agreement between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabian funders of the rest league.

Last month, McIlroy revealed he had had “honest discussions” with Spieth after the American confirmed the Tour no longer needed to reach an agreement with the Public Investment Fund. That upset McIlroy.

“Having PIF as your partner rather than not having them as your partner, I don’t think that’s an option for the game of golf,” McIlroy said. “I talked to him [Spieth] about his views, and we had a nice and honest discussion.”