Rory McIlroy: Right or Wrong?

Post by Golf Journalist Nick Bonfield

Last week, at a press conference preceding the Irish Open, Rory McIlroy put an end to years of incessant speculation by declaring his intention to represent Ireland at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Ever since the announcement that golf would form part of the Games for the first time since 1904, debate has been rife – not only in the golf industry, but the wider sporting community – about a decision that could potentially expose some flaws in the system and add yet more unwanted attention to a man who seems incapable of avoiding controversy.

Firstly, let me clarify that I’m a big fan of the Northern Irishman. Yes, he’s made his fair share of questionable decisions – walking off with ‘tooth ache’ at the 2013 Honda Classic and cancelling his engagement to Carolina Wozniacki at the last minute are two examples that spring to mind – but he’s still a young man who’s finding his way in the world. For the most part, he comes across as a polite, articulate and amenable person who has dealt admirably with the immense pressure placed on his shoulders since the start of his intrepid foray into the world of professional golf.

Sadly, though, he just seems incapable of avoiding controversy, and this hullabaloo is the latest in a long line of sagas stretching back to the start of 2013, when he signed a contract with Nike to make him the highest paid man in the world of professional sport. But in this instance, there was simply nothing he could do to avoid upsetting one party or another – a product of a flawed system completely out of his control. You sensed the decision to play for Ireland was one that he didn’t take lightly, and something that constantly gnawed away at him as he attempted to deal with stratospheric on-course expectation levels.

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot,” said McIlroy.

“I don’t know if it’s because the World Cup is in Brazil and I was thinking a couple of years down the line.

“I was thinking about all the times I played for Ireland as a boy and everything. For me, it’s the right to play for Ireland.”

And who can argue with McIlroy’s comments? He rightfully feels a sense of loyalty to the Golf Union of Ireland, who helped fund him as a youngster, coached him, paid for his competitive golf and ultimately helped shape the person and golfer he is today. From a very young age, it was an organisation that took McIlroy under its wing, helped support his development and gave him an excellent springboard. Given the aforementioned, you’d be extremely surprised if McIlroy didn’t feel a sense of allegiance, and the fact he does further reinforces my above point about his constitution.

No, the issue here isn’t with McIlroy, it’s with the system. In my mind, he simply shouldn’t be allowed to represent Ireland – something he naturally feels obliged to do. For me, it’s a question of national identity. McIlroy has been born, bred and raised in Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He just shouldn’t have the option to play for Ireland. Many people have commented that he might as well play for South Africa if he isn’t representing Team GB, and whilst that example is a little extreme, I fully understand where they are coming from. How can someone be allowed to play for a country that isn’t their own? It’s a simple but profound argument, and one that should end all others.

The fact is, however, that this situation will continue to present itself going forward unless the system is changed. It’s also something that affects other sports. Rugby 7s is another sport that was voted onto the Olympic roster by the Olympic Committee ahead of the 2016 Games in Rio, and they have exactly the same problem. Rugby in Ireland is also governed by one overarching body that isn’t defined by nationalistic lines. With both these sports likely to continue to feature in the Olympics going forward, it’s something that really needs to be addressed. With golf, I also think the proposed structure is a bit of a farce. This is a perfect opportunity to give amateurs the chance to represent their countries on the world stage, and that’s how it should be; not a bunch of multi-millionaire professionals competing in an event that will never, ever be the pinnacle of the sport.

But back to the original point. I just can’t comprehend why there aren’t two unions in Ireland - one for Eire and one for Northern Ireland. I think the structure in the UK should be one single union that devolves power, funding and autonomy along geographical lines. The Golf Union of Wales, the Scottish Golf Union and the English Golf Union already exist. Why can’t we have a Golf Union of Northern Ireland, or a Golf Union of the United Kingdom that allocates proportional resource? Granted, I don’t have an intricate understanding of how each institution functions, and there would be logistical and structural challenges to overcome, but I see no reason why this system couldn’t work.

But it doesn’t, and once again I’m left feeling sorry for McIlroy. He’s made a loyal decision, but one he’ll probably face repercussion from. Since the start of 2013, he’s had to deal with the fanfare surrounding his switch to Nike, a drastic loss of form, ongoing legal issues surrounding his change of management, the fallout from his canceled engagement to Wozniacki and now this. It’s not easy being a young superstar, and you can’t help but feel his golf will become better and more consistent if he can find some stability and placidity off the course. Still, it remains to be seen if that’s something he’ll be able to achieve.

Welcome to the crazy, unpredictable life of Rory McIlroy.