Rory McIlroy May Be a Genius But He is Not Perfect

As somebody who spent a career working in the media I have to hold up my hands and admit that there are times when misleading headlines have made my blood boil.

And in the aftermath of an epic Masters, it happened again.

The DeChambeau Non-Story

Bryson DeChambeau, who partnered Rory McIlroy in the final round at Augusta National, claimed that the Northern Irishman did not talk to him throughout the 18 holes that were to change his life. The headlines that went with that were clearly designed to a) get us reading the words that followed and b) imply that McIroy’s behaviour left something to be desired.

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Let’s get something straight here. This was the final round of a major. Not just any major but McIlroy’s opportunity to finally land the career grand slam and become one of only six golfers to achieve the feat. This was not a friendly 18-hole knockabout.

DeChambeau would not have expected McIlroy to engage him in conversation with so much at stake. And I can promise you that the American would not have welcomed a playing partner chirping away in his ear for 18 holes.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Tiger Woods won 15 majors by keeping himself in a bubble. Did anybody ever accuse him of being aloof? He was always utterly focused on the task in hand and blocked out all the noise around him.

And Nick Faldo won six majors by freezing out everything around him. 

He would speak to his caddie but almost went out of his way to ignore his playing partners. It served him pretty well too - he won six majors. His attitude did not make him universally popular with either his peers or the media. But boy was his approach effective. 

Unfortunately, there was one memorable occasion when it backfired in spectacular fashion. At the 1991 Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island, Faldo was partnered with David Gilford against Mark O’Meara and Paul Azinger in the Saturday morning foursomes. At the time, Faldo was one of the best players in the world. Gilford was a shy and reserved Englishman for whom the whole experience was hugely overwhelming. He needed somebody to put an arm round him. Instead, Faldo barely exchanged a word with him and they were hammered 7&6.

The bottom line is that apart from Lee Trevino, golf’s major winners have always concentrated on themselves in the heat of battle. A notable exception was Jack Nicklaus during the 1977 Open at Turnberry, the Duel in the Sun. Nicklaus and Tom Watson produced four days of sheer magic and at one point Nicklaus turned to Watson and said: "Tom, does it get any better than this?"

Why Rory McIlroy is NOT Everybody's Cup of Tea

In the immediate aftermath of McIlroy’s victory, on Sky Sports Golf, Nick Dougherty conducted a round-table interview with Laura Davies, Butch Harmon and Paul McGinley.

McGinley, who was visibly moved by what he had just witnessed, began his summary by saying that the Northern Irishman was not everybody’s cup of tea. He then went on to deliver fulsome praise.

I was genuinely taken aback when I saw the reaction on social media. Rather than focusing on the positives - and there were plenty from McGinley - the trolls chose to attack him. 

Now here is the thing. Rory McIlroy is NOT everybody’s cup of tea. 

There have been times in defeat when his behaviour has left a great deal to be desired. 

You will recall that when LIV Golf first reared its head McIlroy was one of its most vocal critics. Now he is advocating for a peace deal that brings everybody together. 

Initially, he was bitter in his criticism of those who moved to LIV but when Jon Rahm made his controversial and highly lucrative switch, McIlroy was one of the first to insist that Rahm had to still be a part of Europe’s Ryder Cup team.

He has been highly critical of several of his peers. He once told Grayson Murray to play better after the American moaned about the gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ on the PGA Tour. Murray was a tortured soul, a man who had to battle with many demons and who eventually took his own life in 2024 when he appeared to have turned a corner on and off the course.

McIlroy stormed off after losing to DeChambeau at the 2024 US Open and then announced he was taking a break from the game. 

And then there was his spat with Patrick Cantlay’s caddie, Joe LaCava at the 2023 Ryder Cup that nearly spilled over into a fist fight with Jim "Bones" Mackay.

So yes, he does upset the applecart from time to time and yes, there are those who are not fans - and each and every one of them is entitled to their own opinion.

McIlroy may well be the most thrilling golfer of his generation, who moves the needle wherever he plays. But let’s not pretend that he is perfect - and that, surely, is part of what makes him so special.

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