Rory McIlroy 'got it wrong' with dismissive comment that irked Open champion
After overcoming a tough period post his Augusta victory, McIlroy is now tied for the lead as the final round of the Scottish Open looms.
When quizzed before the 2025 Players Championship in March about his prospects on the PGA Tour Champions, the Northern Irishman was quick to dismiss the idea, stating "absolutely not".
"I think when I've achieved everything I want to achieve in the game and I get to the point where I don't think I can maybe do that anymore," he said. "I'd also like to walk away with a little bit left in the tank. I don't want to be out there embarrassing myself. I'd like to walk away maybe a little before I should. Put it that way.
"Look, I've said a lot of absolutes in my time that I've walked back, but I do not envision playing Champions Tour golf. Something has gone terribly wrong if I have to compete at golf at 50."
McIlroy's comments sparked a response from several veteran golfers on the Champions tour, including former Open Championship winner Ernie Els. The South African hit back with: "Interesting to read @McIlroyRory comments today. At 35 years old I was also bullet proof saying things about not playing past 50.
"I'm 55 now and laughing at my comments from back then. @ChampionsTour golf is so fulfilling with a great bunch of players we all grew up together from junior golf. Our sponsors and partners are wonderful companies and people. Competition is a powerful tool!"
With eligibility for the Champions Tour starting at 50, McIlroy has plenty of time to reconsider his stance. And his former agent, Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler, disagreed with McIlroy's implication that senior tour players are still only competing for the money.
Chandler told Betway: "That can be from being unsettled at home. It can be because his game's not quite right. It's easy for him to say right now, 'I'm not right'. But I think he'll reset completely, and he'll go again next February with a brand new attitude and mind again.
"He owes nobody anything apart from himself. Because he's still an underachiever in a funny sort of way. He should have won his Grand Slam 10 years ago.
"So I think you'll find that he comes next year and has a full go at it again, and he'll retract his senior statement in about 10 years' time because that's what he does, isn't it? I mean, the Ryder Cup was an exhibition when he was with me. Look at him now.
"He's not bad at turning back as he changes his mind. That senior comment will definitely be like that because they don't play for the cash.
"He's got it wrong. He thinks they're playing for the cash. They're not. They're playing because they like competing at golf.
"Ernie Els is up for it to be amongst the lads, not to try and earn 50 grand. When Shane Lowry's a senior and a few of his [McIlroy's] peers, like Justin Rose and whoever are around him, then it'll be different."
McIlroy on Saturday expressed confidence in his game, saying he is close to recapturing his Masters-winning form after a strong third-round performance at the Scottish Open. He carded a 66 to share the lead with American Chris Gotterup on 11 under.
Looking ahead to next week's 2025 Open Championship, 2014 winner McIlroy reflected on his recent dip in form, saying: "I think I've had a little bit of a lull, which I feel is understandable. When you do something that you've been dreaming your whole life to do, it was a huge moment in my life, my career.
"I think I just needed that little bit of time. And to be back here for the last couple weeks, and feel like I could actually digest all of it, I feel like I came to this tournament with renewed enthusiasm and excitement for the rest of the year." (Image: Christian Petersen, Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)
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The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose bromance stronger than ever at The Open as they relive nerve-shredding Masters play-off
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Advertisement READ MORE IN GOLF At a golf writers' dinner on Tuesday, McIlroy wore his Green Jacket and was asked who he would like to lift the Claret Jug, if he could not do so himself. And he replied: 'With what Rosey and I went through at Augusta, how close he has been, I would love to see him get a second Major. 'He has won a Major, he has won an Olympic gold medal. 'But that second Major would validate what a great career he has had. That would be a great storyline. Hopefully it's one of the Europeans — let's keep it this side of the Atlantic.' Advertisement Most read in Golf Revealed BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Victory for Rose would certainly buck recent trends. No Englishman has lifted the Claret Jug since Sir Nick Faldo in 1992. During this time 15 different Americans have prevailed, including last year's winner Xander Schauffele — ahead of Rose, who tied for second. The secret underground tunnel where Open golfers hide from thunderstorms but only certain stars can use it at Portrush The Open 2025 ONE of the most anticipated Opens in years is finally here. Can THE OPEN 2025 LIVE - Follow all the latest updates from Royal Portrush TIPS AND FREE BETS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW... The Open 2025 schedule and tee times TOP STORIES... But Rose, 44, knows 'local hero' McIlroy — who shot a course record 61 at Portrush at 16 — will take some beating. Advertisement Rose said: 'Rory is a local hero around here and rightly so. He has been since he shot 61 here as a kid. 'The legend around him in these parts has been growing for a long, long time. He's going to be incredibly well supported this week. 'I feel the pressure is off him this time around, compared to when The Open was last here in 2019 — because he's got nothing more to prove. This would be the cherry on top. He's in a good mindset.' Rose, who burst on to the scene by finishing fourth as a 17-year-old amateur at Birkdale in 1998, also lost a Masters play-off to Sergio Garcia in 2017. Advertisement He admits he is sick of finishing second in Majors but was not 'devastated' by the latest loss earlier this year, given McIlroy had blown a big lead only to roar back in the play-off. 8 Rose's wife Kate congratulated McIlroy on his Masters win 8 His wife Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy were also at Augusta in support Credit: Getty Rose said: 'When Rory was there over his three-footer to win, I was definitely thinking, 'Oh, man, I've been here before watching the same story'. There was definitely a bit of deja vu. Advertisement 'In 2017, I could almost imagine what it would be like to have won The Masters. 'But it was different this time around. I played great on the Sunday. I chased as hard as I could. 'So there was more pride in the performance. When you see all the outpouring from Rory, you understand how big the moment is and you wish that for yourself. 'But it wasn't lost on me what a huge achievement that was for the game of golf, someone achieving a career Grand Slam. Advertisement 'I was still able to be happy for Rory in that moment. It had been a long time coming for him. For how good he is, to have a decade of chances slip by. 8 McIroy is now ready to test himself back on home turf Credit: Getty 8 Rose is also hoping for success at The Open Credit: Getty 'He hit two amazing shots in the play-off. I'd imagine he felt he'd have given it away. He probably felt he shouldn't even be in a play-off. Advertisement 'So for him to steady himself and to put two great swings on it when it mattered most — when you lose to that, you can walk out with your head held high and give your competitor a lot of praise. 'I don't really feel like I had to get over it. I didn't necessarily feel completely devastated. I didn't feel that there was much baggage.' Rose admits he has felt the love of the public since congratulating McIlroy so warmly at Augusta — and says that dramatic finale whetted the appetite for Portrush. He said: 'I probably picked up a lot more followers and fans because of The Masters. I felt I reacted normally to Rory afterwards. Advertisement 'It wasn't a runaway win, someone made a run, someone was playing well, there was drama, a few bad shots, some great shots, and suddenly it culminated into this amazing story — and it was great to be a part of it. 'Feeling a part of that story has made people very excited about this tournament. I'm ready to move on because second is second, isn't it? It's a tough loss. But it's more evidence that, when I get things right, I'm still competitive.'
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Portrush Open victory last of old monkeys to shake from Rory McIlroy's back
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There are five Irish players in the field here, and Shane Lowry will fancy his chances of a 2019 repeat and lifting that Claret Jug again, but McIlroy remains the North Star on this stretch of coastline in north Antrim. It's six years since Shane Lowry's Open victory at Portrush. Picture: Ben Brady/Inpho It's 18 years since Harrington won his first Open and McIlroy took home the silver medal as the leading amateur. The Dubliner predicted great things for the younger man that day — not a stretch — but even he couldn't foresee the extent of achievement that was to come. 'I really went out on a limb, didn't I?' he laughed on Wednesday in a chat with the Irish media. 'Look, we all knew about Rory for probably five, six years before that. He would have been on the radar. 'Obviously he's delivered on that, and that's hard. There's many a star in all sorts of sports that, for whatever reason, when they get going, it just doesn't happen. Rory delivered on that. To win a Grand Slam is incredible. 'Who would have thought that? And hopefully, maybe with Tom McKibbin and others coming behind, we do need to fill that void. That's the one thing we're missing in Ireland: we don't have that next bunch of guys on the tour. 'When I went out on tour there was 15 Irish guys. Only Conor Purcell's on the European Tour at the moment. So we do need a bunch of players to get out there and be the next generation. But for the moment let's hope that previous generations still have a few in them.' There was the hint of a twinkle in his eye as he said that, but there are so many contenders for the title here and, if some of the leading men are obvious, then there isn't anyone absolutely head and shoulders above the rest in terms of odds or expectations. Scottie Scheffler starts as favourite. Natch. Remarkably, the world number one was asked a question about slumps this week despite being the reigning US PGA champion, winning as recently as May and claiming three top tens in his three outings since. Some slump and yet he clearly hasn't been playing to his absolute best. Find that here and there won't be many can live with him although the likes of an in-form McIlroy, Jon Rahm, reigning champion Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau will all have their backers. Two-time Open champion Pádraig Harrington will be fiirst to tee off on Thirsday morning. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Then again, this is a tournament that can chuck up winners from, if not left field then out of central casting. Think of Brian Harman, Francesco Molinari and Henrik Stenson in the last ten years alone. And JJ Spaun is here as US Open champion. Even he didn't see that coming. For all the talk of links golf and its unique nature and unfamiliar demands, the famous jug has gone back to America 13 times since the millennium. There have been South African, Australian, Swedish and Italian champion golfers in that same time. Unpredictable winds and bounces don't hold much regard for nationality, although the expected weather conditions this week, while mixed, could probably do with a stiffer breeze to make for the ideal test on a course that has been love-bombed all week. Harrington summed it up as a perfect mix of risk versus reward, a track where players are asked a multiplicity of different questions on every shot and hole and one that, as a result, promises plenty of drama for player and spectator alike. And to think, then, that we haven't even widened the lens on all this yet to take in the enormity of a second Open on Irish soil in just six years. This is enormous. Epic. Just maybe don't mention as much to McIlroy any time before ten-past three in the afternoon. Read More Rory McIlroy more at peace with his mind and his game on return to Royal Portrush
Irish Times
8 hours ago
- Irish Times
Portrush digest: Second man Rose back in battle with McIlroy for Claret Jug
Justin Rose was the fall guy in Rory McIlroy's moment of triumph at the Masters, the man who had the closest view of the Northern Irishman's historic career Grand Slam. Rose's loss in the playoff for a second time – he was also thwarted by Sergio Garcia in 2017 – prompted McIlroy to actually admit that, if he weren't to win the Claret Jug at Portrush, then Rose would be his choice. Of revisiting that scene on the 18th green at Augusta, Rose remarked: 'I was able to still be happy for Rory in that moment, and it had been a long time coming for him. For how good he is, to kind of have a few chances slip by, in obviously maybe a decade even of chances slip by. It was always going to be a matter of time. I mean, it's easy for us to say that, but when you're the player, you want to kind of get that done and you want to get over the line, and obviously he had a huge opportunity to get that done. [ Grace of Masters nearly man Justin Rose enhanced Rory McIlroy's historic win Opens in new window ] 'It's been a weird one because I don't really feel like I had to get over it because I didn't necessarily feel completely devastated by it either. I'm ready to move on for sure because second is second place, isn't it? It's a tough loss. But at the same time, it's still more evidence that when I get things right, I'm still competitive and can still bring it. That's where I'm encouraged about, and obviously I've got to make sure those moments like this week and going forward I can try to be as focused as I can on the moment now.' READ MORE Portrush legacy is in the bag The golf bags of Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Jason Kokrak and Brian Campbell of the United States during a practice round at Royal Portrush. Photograph:Steam trains, Dunluce Castle, sea views and whiskey are among the features used on players' special-edition staff bags for the 153rd Open championship. The TaylorMade Portrush bag draws inspiration from the steam line train that runs close to the course and which started operations in 1855: on the back side top valuables pocket, an embroidered patch commemorates the host venue in the form of a vintage train ticket, while 'All Aboard!' appears on the front side valuables pocket. The engine colours of red and black feature on the bag's exterior, while the green signifies the passenger cars. Callaway's staff bag also has Portrush inspiration, with a graphic of Dunluce Castle between a turquoise sea and sky and bright orange lifebuoy rings and rope netting on its side panels. Innovatively, the sides of the Cobra staff bag look like a whiskey cask with its wood grain, and it is highlighted by a wonderful green tartan pattern. You can see an 'Aged 52 years' logo that refers to ageing whiskey in barrels, while the '52 years' pays homage to Cobra being founded in 1973. As for Srixon, Shane Lowry's caddie Darren Reynolds will be carrying a deep mahogany and navy blue bag which has matching headcovers; around the base are the years Royal Portrush has hosted the Open (1951, 2019, 2025). From Portrush to Portmarnock Royal Portrush is playing host to the Open for a third time, and the prospect of Portmarnock joining the championship rota remains a viable option, which would make the north Dublin links the first outside of the United Kingdom to stage the event. Portmarnock Golf Club in Co Dublin. Photograph:Mark Darbon, the chief executive of the R&A, which runs the championship, said: 'We are thinking about Portmarnock. We think it's a wonderful links golf course and we've been really encouraged by the support that we've had in principle from the Irish Government to work with us to understand whether we could stage an Open championship there in the future. [ R&A 'hopeful' for future Portmarnock staging of The Open but says a lot of work still be done Opens in new window ] 'We're knee deep in feasibility work to help us answer that question fully. We expect to have a clearer picture by the back end of this year.' Players aiming for 99 One of the fringe benefits for those players seeking some relaxing downtime this week has been the provision of an ice cream station in the Players' Lounge. The ice cream is provided by the Morelli ice cream parlour, with the background information of a family business that started 'from humble beginnings in Coleraine in 1911' to grow in to the institution it has become today. Players can choose a variety of toppings from fresh berries to chocolate sauces in creating their own sundaes. As for Pádraig Harrington, he kept up a tradition of buying a 99 cone during his pre-championship practice round and gave the on-course vendors the thumbs-up for their product. 'I have to say, in my considered opinion, we do the best 99s here. I've tested a 99 at every Open venue and these are definitely the biggest and the nicest so far,' enthused Harrington. Word of Mouth 'Golf is just golf, and I'm trying to just play my game. That's the attitude I've had all season long. Whether I'm the reigning US Open champion, yeah, there's going to be some expectations, but I feel like this whole season I've been doing a good job of just trying not to let the moment feel bigger than itself' – JJ Spaun, the US Open champion, on trying to stay true to himself. By the Numbers: 62 US golfer Collin Morikawa plays from a bunker onto the 14th green during a practice round at Royal Portrush on Wednesday. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images There are 62 bunkers on the Dunluce links, considerably fewer than at many other Open venues – Royal Lytham and St Annes have nearly 200, for instance – but the strategic location of the sand traps ensures they pose challenges for players.
