Criticism of Rory Misses the Point

IF ANYBODY ever doubted Rory McIlroy's determination to win The Open on home soil it came with the news that he is to miss the Irish Open. He has been heavily criticised in some quarters for sitting out his home tournament but it misses the point that, without his presence at the tournament in recent years it would be on its knees.

He has done his bit to put the Irish Open back on the map and took the decision not to play this year because he wants to arrive at Royal Portrush for The Open feeling fit and fresh. He will, of course, be under enormous pressure to win his first major since 2014, with a vast army of fans cheering his every shot. This is the first time that golf's oldest major has been played in Northern Ireland since 1951.  

“If there is ever a year when I feel I can miss this Irish Open, it’s this year,” said McIlroy, who will likely play the Scottish Open immediately before The Open. “If I was to play the Irish Open, the Open Championship would be my third event in a row. For me, that’s not the best way to prepare for what could be the biggest event of my life.”

Of course there are those who will suggest that playing tournaments on three successive weeks is not terribly taxing, but let's give McIlroy the benefit of the doubt. For sure, no other player in the field will carry the weight of expectation that he will.

McIlroy had hosted the Irish Open since 2015 and won it at The K Club in 2016, but Paul McGinley will take over hosting duties at Lahinch this year.

McGinley was critical of McIlroy’s suggestion that he might only play two regular European Tour events this season, a decision which would mean losing his membership and the right to be Ryder Cup captain in the future.

However, McIlroy says he will play the minimum number of four events to maintain his membership and believes his critics “don’t see the bigger picture.”

“I wouldn’t miss that [the Ryder Cup] for the world. I’m still going to be a member of the team,” McIlroy added. “I’m just going to sort of play as little as I can [on the European Tour] to save myself for the golf that I’m playing everywhere else also.

“I love the Irish Open. I’ve supported it in my whole career. The people of Ireland are still going to see me playing golf because I’m going to play the Open Championship and I’m sure a lot of people will travel from down south to see me play.

“My main focus is the major championships, the WGCs.... the biggest events in the world wherever they may be. They don’t know the ins and outs of your life. It’s easy to criticise from far away because you don’t know the details.

“I’m sure people are going to be upset but at the same time, if it means that it gives me a better chance to win The Open, and prepare well for Portrush, I’m going to do it.

“I’m going to make decisions that are the best thing for me. If that upsets anyone, then I’m sorry - that’s not my problem, that’s their problem.”

Before that, McIlroy will head to Augusta in April and attempt to win The Masters to become only the sixth player to complete a career grand slam. But he insisted: “If I could pick one tournament to win this year, it would be Portrush. I would definitely have Augusta on the backburner. I never thought I would play a major in Northern Ireland. It would be the biggest achievement of my career if I was able to win it.”

Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography