Rory McIlroy spoke on the Stick To Football Podcast about his feelings towards LIV Golf and the recent signing of Jon Rahm.
So Rory comes on this stick to football podcast it’s an original series from the overlap Gary Neville Jamie carrier uh Jill Scott Ian Wright Roy Keane it it’s a show where they bring in these special guests and they’re focusing on football Rory is a of the European variety right Rory is a huge
Man united fan and so you’re going to here in the two clips that Dom put together from the podcast and again I want to make sure that that the credit on this is properly given because I thought it was fascinating and they deserve it because it was extremely well done stick to football
Podcast where Rory maroy gets into his perspective current on live and then we’ll talk about how that perspective may have evolved so I think the one thing for me is golf has always been built on meritocracy you shoot the scores you um rise up the ranks and you
Get you get rewarded accordingly um and I think what’s in a way what Liv has done it’s really it’s exposed flaws in the system of of what golf has because we’re all supposed to be independent contractors and we can sort of basically pick and choose what tournaments we want to
Play but I think what Liv and the sties have exposed is okay well if you have you know a tour and you’re going and you’re asking sponsors for millions of dollars to sponsor these events and you’re not able to guarantee those sponsors the players that are going to
Show up you know it’s very hard it it I can’t believe they’ve done so well for so long so it’s actually exposed some flaws in the system that hopefully golf will have a look at more okay well if we’re going to ask these people for so
Much money we need to be able to guarantee them what they’re getting and I think that was part of the stuff that we’ve been trying to do for the last two years to figure out okay how can we basically try and bring the thing back together again and and and learn from
Some of the things that have happened and some of the stuff that Liv has has exposed and yeah I still I feel like there was a way to do it where it wasn’t going to be this massive disruptor to the game and I think that’s the other thing to me it’s
Like it’s just it’s created this massive upheaval in in professional golf which has been sad to see and it’s like some people have taken one side some people have taken another and golf’s a small enough sport it’s not like football where you’ve got billions of fans so if
You start dividing the eyeballs in professional golf it’s no good for anyone it’s just going to accountabil itself well so competition is good right it it it makes people um but at the same time I think with the PJ T trying to compete with live and the Saudi money is
Like completely unsustainable they can’t do that they just it’s not you know you’re never going to win a fight if you’re just you know money for money because I think we’ve seen in All Sport like there’s no one spending like the Sidi so how can you how can you tilt the
Odds in your favor so that you can make your product better that you can make fans want to engage more with with what you’re doing I think that’s how the PGA Tour can I don’t want to say win this fight because you know there’s negotiations going on and everyone
Trying to come back together which I think would be good for golf um but it it put the PGA tour in a position where they had to spend a lot of money that maybe put them on a path that was that was unsustainable and now you’re seeing some sponsors are pulling out
Because the two are asking for so much money and the sponsors like we can’t you know we can’t afford that we can’t afford it we can’t you know asking us to pay 20 25 million an event to to sponsor this thing I mean it’s you know if
They’re not seeing the value in it and they’re not seeing okay well if you can guarantee me that the top 50 guys are going to come and play in my event that week then fine but if you can’t guarantee me that then I’m not going to
Give you that money I mean you’ve been quite outspoken about it yourself and probably Tiger Wood have seen as the two on this side a lot of golfers have gone to to live when you’re soing about now they could actually come together yeah if they do come together what why would
You not then be be part of of live so I think and get the you know sort of like the finances that these other players are getting which is astronomical well I think you would in the end because if if live are so the thing that I that I’ve
Come to realize is okay if you’ve got people or a sovereign wealth fund wanting to spend money in your sport ultimately that’s a good thing but you just want to maybe get them to spend it the right way and to spend it on things that that are important in the game so
Um instead of giving someone hundred million do why don’t you put 50 million into a Grassroots program for the RNA or the USGA so that you can actually help whenever they say growing the game you know spending that money elsewhere to actually grow the game and not just try
To buy talent I think is would be a way better um way to to spend that money absolutely yeah I mean it’s at the end of the day we’re professional golfers we play golf to make a living and and and make money I I absolutely understand it
Especially some of these guys that were on like the back end of their career yeah absolutely like I I don’t I don’t um I don’t begrudge anyone for going and taking that money and and doing something different but don’t don’t try to burn the place down on your way out
You know I think that’s sort of my my attitude towards it because some people are are happy playing you know in the existing structure and that’s totally fine too but I think it’s just created this division that hopefully will stop in the near future because I think it’s
The best thing for golf to what about the the golf who’s just moved I think in the last probably few weeks John Ram yeah and it feel like he was so strong and aligned with you you know on this side I mean how did you feel personally when he E’s jumped across
I think at this point with the so this whole framework agreement and and the sort of merger news back in June I think what happened is the tours legitimized what Liv was trying to do so it made it made it easier for guys to to jump you
Know John Ram’s not got any of the heat that the the first guys got for for going so it’s made it easier for for guys to to jump and I think John you know he’s he’s smart and I think he sees things coming together uh at some point
So he’s like okay I you know take a lot of upfront money um which is his perogative he can absolutely do that and if things come together I’ll just you know I’ll maybe play live for a year come back play on the tour and maybe
Play some team golf on the on the sort of fringes um so I thought it was quite you know it’s it’s a smart business move it’s opportunistic I think he he sees that things will come back together and you know and he’s he’s in a lucky position he’s exempt for all the majors
Um there’s not one person that wouldn’t want them on our Ridder Cup team because of you know how good he is so he was in a great position where there wasn’t a ton of risk involved for for him to go um but I have I have no problem with
John going if that’s what he wants to do and he thinks that’s the right decision for him and his family then you know who am I to say any different at this point so that’s just part one of the two pieces that Don put together from the stick to football podcast that Rory
Maroy was obviously on recently so I wrote down just to some notes that that struck me as he was speaking and this kind of goes back to what I was saying earlier about comments from Kum morawa that we featured for you where he was talking about I I don’t even read this
Stuff anymore it’s all fluff right remarkably really honest comments and Rory speaks with with Candor as well and one of the things that he said when he and we used at the start of the show this little clip where he goes live exposed flaws right where you’d golf churning Along by any
Definition and it was very strong and strong fisted at times depending on which governing body we’re talking about or which event we’re talking about or vents what have you and he’s saying live exposed flaws because from from a starting standpoint that’s what kind of started everything down this road
I mean that’s really what Phil Mickelson was trying to do when he was making his initial comments he did it in his typical Phil way and had failed at that time where Phil likes to plant the seed and let it grow into into something else
And he tried to do that with this one but he didn’t package it in the correct way and expect and ultimately with Alan shipnuck Revelations a couple months later it all turned on him because people saw that the Phil Mickelson they thought they knew knew was not necessarily the Phil
Mickelson that was behind the scenes but when you talk about what Phil was saying not how he said it he was talking about flaws and Rory mroy just said live exposed flaws I was pretty fascinated by that I was fascinated when he said I can’t believe they’ done so
Well for so long and what he was talking about there was going out and getting people to engage in an event he was talking about in the context of of sponsors in this case but but even if you talk from a fans perspective what have you he was saying yeah we’re going
To have an event uh we’re going to know when we get you know the Friday before the event and we may know along the way who’s going to be there but other than that that’s about the all we can guarantee but we need you to you know
Put this up and he has quote can’t believe they’ve done so well for so long fascinating when you think about this and and as to the the efforts with the framework agreement and and what it can be on the other side of those efforts where he said paraphrasing
Everyone are trying to come back together which I think is good for golf further when he was asked about and eventually it was specific with John ROM he said these are all quotes I don’t begrudge anyone for taking the money would that have been would you have come to that
Conclusion that Rory maroy felt that way given the clip from his June comments would you have come to that conclusion where he said I hate live right the one I opened the show with today would you have felt that way prior to that would you have felt that given all his
Comments well Rory still wouldn’t begrudge anybody for taking the money that’s exactly what he just said right and and bear in mind I’m not illustrating the the contrast in his comments to try to expose in some way uh a disingenuous perspective what I’m exposing here is I
Think it’s not me exposing it I’m just discussing it but I think what we’re seen here is an evolution in thinking I think it’s mind and heart it’s I and and frankly I think it’s very very healthy and I’m saying that to you because we live in a world today where
We try to pigeon hole people to say you said right that’s the red state blue State world that we live in today you said you’re painted in that corner that’s where you have to stay forever well wait a a minute is it okay that I’ve learned or I’ve spoken to people or
I’ve changed my mind is that allowed in today’s world that my thinking has evolved in some way or no if you said it once you’re done that’s it is that healthy is that what learning really is about when it comes to John Ram this was fascinating this was at the end of that
Part one we just played we have another part to play for you too which we get to where he was talking about John RAM and he said the framework legitimized what Liv is trying to do this was the announcement of the framework agreement that he was referring to it legitimize
What Liv is trying to do and as to John Rah he spoke of it as a smart business move which to me I would I would interpret that along the lines of what my thoughts were on it yesterday I think I think they’re aligned here in terms of
Philosophy which is to say if you’ve been offered an absolutely massive sum of money massive knowing that the two organizations are involved in negotiations right now to become one so you might literally get the massive check and have the prospect of playing once again in the events that you would like to play
In on the tour side the PGA Tour side and probably because of the comments of Rory mroy which which would equate two pressure he’s saying we got to find a way to get keep John Ram in the Ryder Cup Rory called that A smart business move
14 Comments
Rory wants the LIV team golf to be on the fringe. In other words, he is now sort of OK with LIV being part of a deal as long as the team events are all pushed to the end of the season. PIF/LIV know for a fact that their events have to be spread throughout the season. PIF/LIV know for a fact that their events have to feature the individual component to get OWGR points. And PIF/LIV know for a fact that their events being located at the back end of the season with no OWGR points would ultimately result in the top golfers losing interest over time. PIF/LIV won't accept a situation where their events are begrudgingly attended. 1/2
PIF/LIV are very likely more than prepared to reduce their number of events to 10 or maybe even 9. But people like Rory have a future vision of the deal and of PIF/LIV being 5 events at the back arse end of the season [up against the NFL] with no individual component and no OWGR points. Quite possibly the PGAT has now fully moved to wanting a deal but that the deal currently is nowhere near acceptable to PIF/LIV because it would successfully marginalize PIF/LIV in the long-term. The only acceptable deal for PIF/LIV is one where they are fully part of the golf ecosystem i.e. at least 9 events that are spread throughout the season featuring individual and team golf components that will get them OWGR points. 2/2
I'm impressed with Rory for having the courage to admit that he was a little wrong by being judgmental. We all need to move forward with reconciliation and collaboration.
Current LIV players have won 60% of the last 5 majors. So it only makes sense for Rory to want to play on Jon’s LIV team against some of golf’s best. It is time for the PGA to keep with tradition running without changes – as there are plenty of pro golfers & the PGA for its fans should allow some LIV players like Jon, Phil and Rory – to play the PGA events when they want.😀 That is if or when Rory is a LIV golfer.
You can grow the game by paying the players to play. 😮
Rory doesn't say anything that Tiger doesn't want him to……
Tilt the odds ? Win a fight ? Too many times during this podcast/show Rory stopped himself from saying something that would have shown his agenda 🙂Rory still doesn't get that it should always be about the Game of Golf and Growing the Game , The PGA has done nothing to achieve this and for a long time now the people at the top Jay Monahan etc. oh and Rory himself have been using the PGA Tour as an ATM machine with Massive Board Salaries and Absurd expense accounts which is just 1 of the "Exposed Flaws" that Phil talked about without talking about 🙂
100% Rory is ONLY worried about HIS paycheck which is why he wants LIV to be a IPL style set up so he can get in on the action, news flash Rory… Mr Norman and LIV know what you're about.
Phil Mickelson is 100% a Class Act and always has been , Phil has a Genuine Love for the Game of Golf which has always been abundantly clear , he tells it like it is and I have nothing but Love and Respect for the man for doing exactly that.
Harvey Penick once said "if you play the Game of Golf you are my Friend" and LIV Golfers understand Exactly what that means.
Take Care My Friends
The fundamental problem with LIV Golf is that it is sponsored by a country that oppresses women. By virtue of joining LIV Golf Jon Rahm (who washy favorite player after Rory) is saying he supports the oppression of women. If the Ku Klux Clan started a golf tour I can assure none of the tour players would join that tour because the KKK believes in oppressing black people. But somehow these golfers who have joined LIV think that oppressing women is okay. I just for the life of me cannot understand how men, who come from societies that treat women as equals are playing golf for a country that treats women as semi slaves and property. I just don't get it. That is the big picture you gentlemen should be addressing.
does anybody still listen to what comes out of this hypocrite's mouth?
While it is great that Rory is learning stuff, golf simply cannot keep having to wait for Rory and other powerful people in golf to catch up with the times. Phil had to be a bit of a D to break through this slowness holding his industry back.
Phil did what he had to do. He continues to do what he has to do.
I’m not saying Phil is perfect. Or Norman. And I know you are trying to be fair and balanced and you are. But part of that is fully recognizing Phil is like chef Ramsey on an episode of kitchen nightmares or Hell’s Kitchen trying to get through negligence any way he can. And sometimes that mean getting pissed off and not being so nice. When Rory talks about not burning the place down, Phil was not doing that. He was merely showing his pissed off he was with the suits holding progress back. For so long.
Rory is way younger than Phil and tiger. Tiger has made so much money and has had so much go on in his life he never really looked at the big picture like Phil and Norman have been for decades. I try to be fair. Balanced. I’ll disagree with whoever. But the reality is I Cannot disagree with anything Phil and Norman are doing. Because they are doing what they have to do to help the sport progress. Most call it grow the game. I’m calling it progress the game.
I think people would move on easily from Rory's comments if had been merely lukewarm in his comments against LIV. Instead he chose to be extremely combatative. He went out of his way to be petty, nasty and divisive in his comments about many of the LIV golfers and management. He went out of his way to say if LIV was the only option he would retire. It seems he had no qualms in making these comments when he thought the PGAT was in the drivers seat. He said he felt like a sacrificial lamb on June 6 but that didn't stop him taking an almighty swing at Henrik Stenson recently regarding the Ryder Cup. He could have just shut up, but chose to continue to make snide remarks. He comes across as nothing more than an elitist, superior piece of excrement. This about face to me only seems to be coming now that I believe Rory fears he will be left behind. He will be saying this solely for his own benefit, yet he was so derogatory to many of the LIV players making decisions to benefit them. This has been 2 years of utter hypocrisy and trash talking from Rory, so don't expect fans to simply move on and forget that it happened.
Rory is a big mouth imbecile who is trying to walk back all the hatred and bs that spewed out of his mouth this past 2 years, he can see the playing field has changed and he's looking for a life boat to save him from the huge hole he dug for himself, for me his reputation is forever trashed, Great golfer though!!!!!!
The other key quote was Rory advocating for a global tour, with an exclusive window like the IPL in cricket.
You guys in America don’t own golf, and neither do we in Scotland, even though we invented it.
One of the majors also has to go global, at least every second year, and be moved around the planet, to actually achieve the “grow the game” mantra, we are all tired of hearing about, typical it takes Rory to try and make it actually happen.
History will smile on Mickelson. McIlroy can't hold a candle to him. Unprincipled individual of low moral standing.