‘No s***!’ Rory McIlroy reacts after being told he's come up short

Rory McIlroy delivered a hilarious response after coming up short during a challenge involving a moving boat ahead of the Abu Dhabi Championship this week.

McIlroy is known for his wonderful driving ability, yet he found himself facing an unusual test of his abilities at Yas Links.

Before taking on the field as he looks to win the tournament for the first time, the Northern Irishman swapped the tee box for a special constructed platform on top of a moving boat.

The challenge? Find the green of the par-5 18th hole from the boat across different distances, but it was the shorter distance that gave him the most trouble.

Indeed, he struck an effort that looked right on line with the pin, but fell short and landed in the rough, delivering a typical blunt response.

“No s***” he exclaimed after the shot.

It was an amusing exchange, but McIlroy had the last laugh, as he hit the green from the boat from 325 yards away.

Not bad at all by the six-time major champion, and he has certainly performed well this week while chasing a historic achievement.

Rory McIlroy is chasing more DP World Tour history in Abu Dhabi

Before the tournament began this week, McIlroy sat third in the Race to Dubai standings, trailing leader Eugenio Chacarra by nearly 1,000 points.

The 37-year-old is seeking a record-equalling eighth order of merit crown, which would put him level with Colin Montgomerie. Should he win that, it would also be his fifth straight season-ending title.

An opening round 70 didn’t make much noise, although he did receive a two-stroke penalty after officials declared that he improved his lie on the 12th hole, turning his double-bogey 6 into a quadruple-bogey 8.

He rebounded in typical Rory fashion, carding a second round 63 to vault up the leaderboard.

If that wasn’t impressive enough, the defending Masters champion fired 11 birdies during the round, the most he has ever recorded in a round on the DP World Tour.

On Saturday, McIlroy continued his fine form by shooting a 5-under par round of 67, which means he trails leader Jon Rahm by just two shots heading into Sunday.

"There are low ones [scores] out there and I am going to have to shoot a low one - something in the mid to low 60s - to get it done tomorrow and that will be the goal," said McIlroy.

Remarkably, McIlroy has never won this tournament. He has recorded nine top-three finishes at the event and there is no doubt that the Northern Irishman will be looking to add that trophy to his already stacked collection.

Rahm is a tough player to break down, but if anyone can, it is McIlroy.