A strange encounter in New Orleans between Rory McIlroy and Derek Anderson left the former NFL quarterback groveling to the new Masters champion, it has been revealed.
The story emerged from Anderson himself after he opened up on his experience caddying for Kevin Chappell at the recent Zurich Classic in New Orleans.
Chappell was a late replacement for Billy Horschel, meaning that Anderson suddenly found himself on the bag for Chappell alongside McIlroy in his first tournament since his historic Masters victory.
Anderson played the first two rounds alongside McIlroy and his playing partner Shane Lowry, who were also the defending champions of the Louisiana tournament.
‘I felt 5-foot-1-inches tall,’ Anderson said, reflecting on his error in an appearance on the Subpar podcast.
‘I’ll set the scene a little bit. Kevin hit that shot on 17 on Friday. Shane missed the hosel by an inch. He’s short right. And I kind of like walked back and I’m kind of not really sure where to go, because the flag was over there and Shane’s chipping.
Derek Anderson had to apologize to Rory McIlroy for an error at New Orleans’ Zurich Classic
It was McIlroy’s first event since his historic Masters victory back in April at Augusta
‘And I kind of just want to go put this bag down, get my guy’s putter, let’s get this over with. So I go behind the green and Michael Collins (of ESPN) says something to me, and Rory’s chipping from the front-right of the green, right back at me.
‘Collins says something and I like look down, and I don’t even know what he’s saying, and all of a sudden I hear from 40 yards away, “DA! Stop moving!”‘
It was Chappell, calling out to his caddy.
Anderson continued: ‘I was like “oh s***”. I grabbed the bag and went right behind the camera guy and I just stood there and I froze.
‘I didn’t even know what to do, what am I doing, oh my God, there’s all these people here. Kinda freaking out.
‘Meanwhile, Rory had stepped off the chip. Apparently, when I looked down I bothered him. And then he steps up and proceeds to lay sod over it, and I’m like, Oh no. And then they make bogey.
‘We were walking off, and I tapped McIlroy with the putter like, “I’m so sorry, dude”.
‘Going up 18, I’m just trying to stay as far away from him as I could the rest of the way. I apologized to him like five times.’
Derek Anderson will always remember getting in Rory McIlroy’s way at the Zurich because Shane Lowry is never going to let him forget it. ��
The NFL QB turned PGA Tour caddie joined the show to talk about his journey to Kevin Chappell’s bag with @ColtKnost and @thesleezyman. pic.twitter.com/6iMhj2mbvp
— Subpar (@golf_subpar) May 7, 2025
In his time on the football field, Anderson was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens but was waived monthslayer before the Cleveland Browns took him.
He also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills, where he was a mentor and backup to none other than Josh Allen in his rookie season.
McIlroy, meanwhile, is gearing up for the second major of the season next week at Quail Hollow in North Carolina.
In perhaps an ominous sign for the rest of the field at the US Open, McIlroy has enjoyed four victories across his career at the course.