When Rory McIlroy Says What He Thinks

RORY McIlroy is one of the most exciting and naturally gifted golfers on the planet. There is no more thrilling sight than watching the Northern Irishman in full flight.

He is also one of his sport’s great thinkers. The media loves him because when he speaks he usually has something worthwhile to say. He is also not afraid to stir up a bit of controversy.

Here, we look at some his headline-grabbing moments off the golf course.

On The Ryder Cup

Speaking in May 2009, aged 20, and before he had played in his first Ryder Cup, he said: "It's not a huge goal of mine. It's an exhibition at the end of the day. In the big scheme of things it's not that important an event for me. If I play well enough [to qualify] I play well enough. And if I don't, then so be it."

He made his Ryder Cup debut at Celtic Manor in 2010 and quickly changed his mind about it being an exhibition. He said: "It's definitely not an exhibition, it's a great spectacle. I said exhibition when I was not focused on a team event. To get that first win under my belt in the Ryder Cup is fantastic. When you get here you realise how important it is."

After Europe suffered a record defeat at Whistling Straits in 2021 McIlroy broke down in tears in front of the TV cameras. He won his singles matches but had struggled during the four ball and foursomes matches. “I love being a part of this team,” he said. "I should have done more for them this week. I have never really cried or got emotional over what I've done as an individual. I couldn't give a s---. But this team, and what it feels like to be a part of, to see Sergio [Garcia] break records, to see Jon Rahm come into his own this week, to see one of my best friends, Shane Lowry, make his Ryder Cup debut. ... All that, it's phenomenal and I'm so happy to be a part of it.

“This is my far the best experience, and I hope that little boys and girls watching this today, they aspire to play in this and the Solheim Cup. There’s nothing better than being a part of a team. Especially the bond we have in Europe. No matter what happens this week, I’m proud of our captain, our vice captains, and our team.”

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

On The Olympics Games

McIlroy opted out of the 2016 Olympics, citing health concerns in Brazil. He was subjected to some criticism but responded thus: “I didn’t get into golf to grow the game.” He also said that he had no intention of watching the Olympic golf tournament but added that he would be avidly watching the athletics.

By the time he competed at the Tokyo Games in 2021 he had changed his mind. 

He narrowly missed out on a bronze medal and said: “It was just brilliant I wish I was leaving here with a medal but it's been a brilliant week and I've really enjoyed spending so much time with Shane [Lowry] and all the guys and it's just been a throw back to the good old days when we didn't play for money.

"I made some comments before that were probably uneducated and impulsive, but coming here experiencing it, seeing, feeling everything that goes on, not just Olympic golf but the Olympics in general, that sort of Olympic spirit's definitely bitten me and I'm excited how this week's turned out and excited for the future."

On The R&A and USGA

In early 2021, it was announced that golf’s governing bodies intended to limit the length of a driver shaft to 46 inches, two inches shorter than the current legal limit, with further changes on the horizon. McIlroy was distinctly unimpressed. 

He said: “The R&A and USGA have wasted time and money by spending millions of dollars looking at the wrong thing. They are looking at golf through a tiny, narrow little lens that pertains to 0.1% of golfers.

“Yes, of course the ball goes a long way with top-level professionals and top-level amateurs and the guys who make their living playing this game, but 99.9% of golfers don’t do that. And they don’t want the ball to go shorter. They need help getting the ball in the air for going further!

“They spent millions of dollars doing this Distance Insight report, which I think… it’s not going to change the game at all. I’m probably going to get in trouble for saying this but it reeks of self-importance, and that’s not… yes, they’re the gatekeepers of the game, but their job is to make sure the game thrives in a hundred years’ time, and this is not the way to do it."

On LIV Golf

McIlroy has remained resolutely loyal to the PGA Tour and has had some pretty strong things to say about those who joined LIV Golf.

Upon hearing that Brooks Koepka had jumped ship, he said: "Am I surprised? Yes, because of what he said previously. That's why I'm surprised at a lot of these guys, because they say one thing and then they do another and I don't understand. I don't know if that's for legal reasons - I have no idea - but it's pretty duplicitous on their part to say one thing and then do another thing. In public and in private.”

“My stance has been pretty clear from the start. It's not something that I want to participate in. I certainly understand the guys that have went. I understand what their goals and their ambitions are in their life. And I'm certainly not knocking anyone for going. It's their life, it's their decision. They can live it the way they want to.” 

On Phil Mickelson

The left-hander landed himself in hot water when he first of all accused the PGA Tour of greed and then, after it emerged that he was being linked with the LIV Series, he was quoted as describing the Saudis as being “evil mother******s”, while questioning their human rights record.

McIlroy said: “I don’t want to kick someone while he’s down obviously, but I thought his comments were naïve, selfish, egotistical, ignorant. It was just very surprising and disappointing, sad. I’m sure he’s sitting at home sort of rethinking his position and where he goes from here.”

On Billy Horschel

There was no love lost between McIlroy and Horschel when they faced each other in the Walker Cup at Royal Country Down in 2007. 

McIlroy took exception to Horschel’s over-exuberant celebrations after hitting good shots during their singles encounter on the first day. So when they were drawn to play one another again the next day, McIlroy decided to get his own back. 

He said: "In the second singles, I set out to be as loud as he was. On the first tee I ripped a drive up the middle, hit my seven-iron approach to maybe 15 feet - I was shouting ‘Be good! Be good!’ all the way - and holed the putt for an eagle. When the ball went in, I gave it the loudest ‘Come on!’ you’ve ever heard. I think he got the point.”

On Brandel Chamblee

Chamblee is a former golfer-turned TV analyst who has crossed swords with many of the world’s best golfers, including McIlroy. In 2016, Chamblee expressed the view that the Northern Irishman was overdoing his work on the weights. How did Rory respond? He tweeted a video of himself lifting weights to Chamblee.

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