Rory McIlroy had a nightmare PGA Championship at Quail Hollow but despite the negatives of the week, he’s still been praised for his impact on the game overall.
McIlroy finished a whopping 14 shots back of Scottie Scheffler in what was a week to forget for the Northern Irishman.
Furthermore, McIlroy was criticised for ignoring media duties, and with suggestions McIlroy had to change his driver, it’s caused plenty of discussion among the golfing community.
Nevertheless, despite a negative week for McIlroy on and off the course, former PGA Championship winner Rich Beem has sought to praise The Masters winner.
Rory McIlroy praised despite miserable PGA Championship performance
McIlroy’s behaviour in ignoring the media for all four days was a strange call and it will be interesting to hear what his reasoning was.
However, while it’s a bad look for McIlroy, in terms of what he’s doing on the golf course, Rich Beem believes McIlroy has actually had a huge positive impact on a number of players recently.
Commenting on Sky Sports on McIlroy’s grand slam win, Beem suggested that win at Augusta had raised the bar for the rest of the field.
“I think the injection of what Rory did and I think no matter if you’re Scottie Scheffler or world 1,999 – when you saw Rory do what he did, you get this feeling golf is an amazing game. You get motivated by it,” Beem said.
“I would imagine Scottie Scheffler sat there and watch Rory finished and thought you know what, I want a piece of that. The only way to get a piece of that is that I have to go out there and win more majors. I got to win the PGA, the US Open and the Open Championship.
“I think what Rory did at The Masters motivated a lot of guys and Bryson and Jon Rahm will be two who are high on that list, and even Xander. They are not too far away from getting that third leg of that Grand Slam, trying to complete it like Rory did. I think what Rory did really put a massive spark in the game of golf and it’s healthy right now.”
With Scheffler now on three majors, he’s just two away from being next in line for the grand slam and with the US Open coming next, he’s in the form of his life.
Rory McIlroy will have to explain his PGA Championship media absence
There might well be a good reason behind McIlroy and his avoidance of the media but right now, it looks like a bad move and put simply, is bad for optics.
At a time when golfers have been under pressure to speak to the media, McIlroy has effectively shunned everyone on one of the biggest weekends of the year.
After soaking up the adulation at The Masters, if the reason he’s not speaking is because of his poor game at Quail Hollow, then frankly, that stinks.
In reality, McIlroy has only prolonged the questions here and the next time he’s out, he’ll be asked about the driver issue and his lack of media presence.
After riding such a high, you can’t help but feel McIlroy’s performance – on and off the course – has dented him here.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
