Nick Faldo acknowledges that he made a “rookie mistake” when he spoiled Rory McIlroy’s remarkable birdie on the 18th hole of the Masters on Sunday.

Faldo, a three-time Masters champ, appeared on the “Dan Patrick Show” earlier this week and owned up to his error.

“I know that was a rookie mistake, but I’m sitting there, right there, and it just happened, and it was just off the charts,” Faldo said.

“Jim [Nantz] is talking to me and asking me a question, and when you hear the patrons’ roar, the crowd goes nuts, you can’t come back and go, ‘Let’s look at Rory live out of the bunker at 18’ because you know it’s now on tape. I got caught up for that split second, and I reacted. You’re right. I got it all wrong.”

As CBS cameras panned to a Cam Smith putt on the 13th hole, Faldo, perched by the 18th, saw McIlroy hole out from the bunker and revealed to viewers that something special was about to happen. He was summarily roasted on social media for the spoiler.

Faldo is being a little facetious when he refers to the gaffe as a rookie mistake, as he’s been a broadcaster for nearly 20 years, but he admits to having gotten caught up in the moment.

“I seriously was shaking,” Faldo said. “I thought Rory could win the green jacket. I thought something could happen. He’s trying to. We know the story. He pulls off an impossible shot, and I’m sitting right in the middle of it. Sorry I blurted — I didn’t say what happened. I said that you wouldn’t believe what’s going to happen.

“Rookie mistake, but gosh, when you’re in it — you can tell I love it. I’m right in the mix of it. And anything could happen. He could’ve won. It’s very easy for Scottie [Scheffler] to get stymied by the trees. You’re up there doing live golf. I’ve been up there for 18 years, and that was my first cock up.”