It’s safe to say that Rory McIlroy has managed to keep himself firmly in the headlines despite not being seen for a few weeks but just like back at the PGA Championship, McIlroy is now being criticised.
McIlroy’s refusal to speak to the media caused plenty of discussion around the PGA but it was then McIlroy’s decision to not play The Memorial that then added more fuel to the fire.
Making his return at the Canadian Open this week, McIlroy has already said he is struggling with the driving element of his game as he faces missing the cut unless he can turn things around.
However, while McIlroy is hoping the attention turns to his performance on the course in Canada, it is once again some comments off the course that are getting him in hot water.
Rory McIlroy criticised once again after recent comments
Speaking about McIlroy’s long-winded comments on a number of issues for the Golf Channel, analyst George Savaricas was quick to pick up on some of the negatives from McIlroy and suggested that in reality, the Masters winner is wide of the mark with some of his points.
“When he won The Masters the whole narrative coming into it was that this was going to free him up. It could free him up to go on this huge run, he has accomplished everything in the game, he now is in legendary status. He has taken that next step. You are on the Mount Rushmore now,” Savaricas said.
“Six guys who have completed the career Grand Slam. We have not really seen it though. It’s what made the PGA Championship so shocking. Everything he said [in his interview] at face value you nod along and you think some of that makes sense and then there was a few comments he made that you think okay that doesn’t quite pass the sniff test.”
Delving deeper into the comments, Savaricas then picked on why McIlroy is coming off bad.
“‘I don’t want to talk about anything negative in a major championship week’. It’s like well you have got to talk about the good and the bad. The fans want to know if you play well and shoot 65 or if you face some adversity what is happening and are you going to bounce back. What’s the mindset? I do think the USGA and the PGA of America need to do a better job of just providing fans clarity when it comes to driver testing,” he added.
“They have completely botched the messaging. If a club is initially conforming then it’s always confirming and in essence what happens to Rory’s driver and Scottie’s driver, it gets so hot that the USGA with their testing deems it broken, then it has to be removed from the bag. When the average fan hears non conforming they think illegal. It’s just because if a club is hit at that velocity and there are thousands and thousands of hits accrued in tournaments, practicing etc it becomes hotter.
“But the actual verbiage that they use is that it becomes broken and that’s why they have to pull it.
I think if fans understood that this happens to five, six, seven guys, it’s just a natural arch, then it doesn’t feel like we are talking like a corked bat situation with Sammy Sosa.
“But I am surprised with Rory, he does just seem fatigued and burned out. He has also talked about being a leader in the game and he has been one of the thought leaders, and he leads with his stature and what he has accomplished.
“You would think in a major that you lead from the front and that is by spending some time with the media who are a conduit to the fans, so that is what made it so surprising that he said ‘you know what I am just going to skip this week’ and he’s now made it abundantly clear that if the powers that be don’t enforce it then I have my hall pass, so long I am opting out.”
The PGA Tour need to make a decision to help players out with media obligations
It has always been part of the game in any sport for players to speak to the media, whether that be in good times or the bad.
However, when it comes to golf, there isn’t an actual obligation or contractual reason behind the players making sure they’re present for the media.
That has led to the likes of McIlroy, Collin Morikawa and more opting not to speak to the press at times this season and ultimately, it’s led to controversy off the back of it.
For this to be ironed out completely, the PGA Tour need to either make players do it, or release some sort of statement backing their players if they choose not to speak.
Until then, we will have this conversation rumbling on in the background somewhere.
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