Rory McIlroy has claimed the Olympics and the Ryder Cup standout as the “purest form of competition in our sport” after LIV Golf caused the current “*** show” in golf.
Golf has been split by the Saudi breakaway league since 2022 – and the world No.3 is now part of negotiations to find a lasting peace deal.
The Irishman, who came up short in his bid for a first medal, did not play in Rio when golf returned to the Olympics in 2016.
He also called the Ryder Cup “an exhibition event” in 2009 before his debut.
But the four-time Major winner is now a convert to both events where the game’s big stars play for pride in their country or continent and not the cash.
And after his tied fifth-placed finish in front of boisterous crowds at Le Golf National, McIlroy said:
“Amazing experience. Probably one of the best individual competitions I’ve been a part of.
“We were talking about it out there and Nico (Hojgaard) reckons it’s the best tournament he’s ever been involved in, and he’s played a Ryder Cup.
“I still think that the Ryder Cup is the best tournament that we have in our game, pure competition, and I think this has the potential to be right up there with it.
“I think with how much of a **** show the game of golf is right now and you think about the two tournaments that might be the purest form of competition in our sport, we don’t play for money in it.
“Even standing on the 16th tee and watching 18 and seeing Victor Perez come up 18 and how he was serenaded by the French crowds. We don’t get that any other place that we play, maybe apart from The Ryder Cup.
“So yeah, I just thought it was an incredible atmosphere and environment to play in, and I think everyone in the field had a blast.”
Speaking after his third round, the Ulsterman admitted his view of the Olympics was changed in 2021 despite no crowds in Japan. “I think I was in a certain mindset going into Tokyo and I left with a different mindset, just like I’ve done a lot of times in my career because I’m ignorant and naïve and don’t give things much thought,” he said. “But once you experience things, you start to see what the hype is about.”
McIlroy had started the final day four shots off the lead but caught fire on the back nine with five consecutive birdies before disaster struck at the 15th hole when his wedge from 140 yards found the water for a double bogey. He had gone 33 holes without dropping a shot.
“I was one behind and I was like: ‘Holy ****, what just happened?’’ he said. “Even that wedge shot on 15, I hit the shot I wanted to hit but I didn’t get the ball in the air enough for the wind to carry it the extra three or four yards I needed to.
“Tried to stay aggressive and land a wedge between the front edge and the hole. Missed my spot by nearly three or four yards and that ended up costing me a medal. But at that moment, I had the golden medal in mind. I had a wedge in my hand on 15 and you birdie that and get to 18-under and tied for the lead, yeah, absolutely. Any medal is possible at that point.”
Instead world No.1 Scottie Scheffler won after his closing 62 while Great Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood had to settle for silver with his 66 and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama took the bronze after his 65.
McIlroy, who finished four shots behind Scheffler on 15-under par after weekend 66s, will next month pass 10 years without winning a Major.
“I feel like I’ve been golf’s Nearly Man for the last three years,” said the US Open runner-up. “I obviously want that tide to turn and go from the Nearly Man to back to winning golf tournaments. It’s all well and good saying I’m close and close and close. Once I actually step through the threshold and turn these near misses and close calls into wins, that’s what I need to do.”
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Source: USA Today
