It proved to be a frustrating week for Rory McIlroy at the Genesis Invitational, with the Northern Irishman finishing in a tie for 17th despite reaching the halfway stage right in the mix to win at Torrey Pines.
Rory McIlroy was very much in contention to make it two wins from two at the start of the PGA Tour season after the first two rounds at the Genesis Invitational. His five under par performance on Friday appeared to be a real statement.
Unfortunately, he generally went backwards over the last two days. McIlroy did not break par over the weekend. And frustration got the better of McIlroy on Sunday, with the 35-year-old swearing at a fan who criticised his caddie.
But it seems that the disappointing week for McIlroy started before the tournament even got going. The four-time major winner made a claim that everyone has benefitted since LIV Golf came about, noting that he had made more money in the last few years.
Rory McIlroy criticised for ‘insensitive’ comments concerning LIV Golf
McIlroy was one of LIV Golf’s biggest critics for some time. However, he has made quite the u-turn over the last couple of years. Nevertheless, it was still quite a surprise to see him provide an explanation as to why LIV starting up has been good for the game.
And speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Johnson Wagner suggested that McIlroy sounded out of touch with his comments ahead of the tournament.
“He is seeing this from a best player in the game view. That is his opinion and that’s fine but this is so much bigger than that. I made the point that sponsors are getting really hurt. The fact he is saying that we have all benefitted from this, I am making more money than I did in 2019, I am making so much money, look at me. Nobody who is a fan of an athlete loves hearing about how much they make. If you hear Bryce Young come out and say I am making more money this year, I just signed a new deal, nobody wants to hear that. It’s a turn off,” he said.
“So the sponsors and I have been getting roasted for this on social media, but the way that trajectory of the Tour was going before LIV, purses were going up, new TV deal, everything was trending in the right direction. What happened was that it got accelerated to the point of no return. To the point where the PGA Tour had to get outside money to start sourcing other things because they were depleting their reserves making these $20 million purses that they couldn’t have. A lot of sponsors in the beginning couldn’t fork it over and now they are starting to. I just wish he would look at it from someone’s perspective other than himself.
“I know the perspective Rory is coming from. I agree it would be good for the game [for LIV players to come back] but it is not that simple. To use the words get over it, or butthurt by the whole situation I think is a little bit insensitive to what is going on. Two years ago all these guys were banned for life from the PGA Tour and now we are just supposed to welcome them back open arms, hat in hand and we are supposed to be like ‘hey buddy, good to see you’. It’s just not that easy.”
What Tiger Woods said about a deal between the PGA Tour and the PIF
Clearly, the large majority of the world’s best players want the game to come back together sooner rather than later. And it seems inevitable at some stage, particularly after what Tiger Woods said towards the end of the Genesis Invitational.
Woods confirmed that a deal could get done soon. And interestingly, the 15-time major champion suggested that it will create a path for the players to come back together.
The big question concerning this issue centres around how the tours will look once an agreement is announced. The PGA Tour and LIV Golf play the majority of their seasons at the same time, so a compromise is going to have to be made if the likes of Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau are going to face off McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler more often.
Most accept that a deal is coming. But clearly, some take exception with the idea that the reaction should only be overwhelming positive.
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