Texas Golf Star Luke Potter Apologizes for Heckling Rory McIlroy at TPC Sawgrass

University of Texas golfer Luke Potter has apologized after he was removed from TPC Sawgrass for heckling Rory McIlroy during a practice round.

The junior golf star had a discussion with McIlroy, who was playing at Sawgrass ahead of the Players Championship. Potter heckled McIlroy after an errant drive, reportedly after the 35-year-old hit a drive into the water, and McIlroy took Potter's phone and the Longhorn was removed from the course.

In the aftermath, Potter made an apology about the incident and called it a "good learning experience."

"Look, I just made a mistake, and I take ownership for it," Potter said, per Brentley Romine of GolfChannel.com. "I apologize for it. That's about all that needs to be said. ... It's just a good learning experience. Yeah, I apologize."

Potter reportedly referenced McIlroy's performance at the 2011 Masters, in which McIlroy had a difficult final day and blew a lead on the back-nine after leading until that point.

Texas head coach John Fields said that Potter has issued letters of apology to McIlroy, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, PGA Tour University director Brendan von Doehren and University of North Florida golf coach Scott Schroeder, who represents the host school of the Hayt College Invitational Tournament, which Potter had just won the previous week.

Potter is in his first season with the Longhorns after beginning his collegiate career at Arizona State. The victory at the Hayt Tournament was his first collegiate individual victory.