McIlroy: Players Make The Ryder Cup, Says A Majority Aren't On Board Without Fans

In an interview with BBC Sport NI (video version at the link), Rory McIlroy reiterated this desire to see the Ryder Cup postponed if it can’t be played with fans.

Worse for organizers wanting to keep the matches on schedule to the benefit of sports fans and the European Tour’s health and the 9-person Quail Hollow Marching and Chowder Society, McIlroy said his “personal hunch” is that Ryder Cup is headed to 2021.

"I think the majority of players would like to see it pushed back until 2021 so that they can play in front of crowds and have the atmosphere that makes the Ryder Cup so special.

"The players are the ones that make the Ryder Cup. If they are not on board with it and don't want to play then there is no Ryder Cup.

"I see it being pushed back until 2021 and, honestly, I think that will be the right call."

In recent weeks several people (Harrington here, McGinley here) who have reason to know what a postponed Ryder Cup might do for the European Tour’s long term prospects, have suggested a Cup without fans would be better than postponement. Presumably to keep the 2022 edition on schedule as much as any one component.

It’s a bit surprising that McIlroy did not take those hints at heart.

Ratings: "Driving Relief" Draws A Traditional Tour Event-Sized Audience

While NASCAR’s return garnered massive ratings, golf’s “live” return up against most of the first race back did not stand a chance. Why the attempt at competing with non-exhibition sports, we’ll never know. (Golf was the second biggest sports event of the week in terms of eyeballs and just held off a strong challenge from the Beverly Hills Dog Show.)

More importantly: the only number from TaylorMade Driving Relief that matters: $5.5 million and counting raised for COVID-19 related causes, with United Health and Farmers doing the biggest check-writing.

As for the TV audience, golf fans returned. But when the release compares the exhibition with 2019 Tour events, it becomes clear sports fans probably went with NASCAR.

For Immediate Release:

TAYLORMADE DRIVING RELIEF EARNS 2.35 MILLION VIEWERS (TAD) ACROSS NBC, GOLF CHANNEL, NBCSN & STREAMING

Golf’s Return to Television Has Raised More Than $5.5 Million for COVID-19

Relief Efforts So Far; Donations Continue via PGATOUR.com/DrivingRelief

ORLANDO, Fla. (May 18, 2020) – Live golf returned for the first time in two months on Sunday, with TaylorMade Driving Relief supported by UnitedHealth Group, which saw a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 2.35 million average viewers (2-6:33p ET; P2+) across NBC, GOLF Channel, NBCSN, along with NBC Sports and PGA TOUR streaming platforms. Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson defeated Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff in a charity skins match that has raised more than $5.5 million for COVID-19 relief efforts. Donations are continuing at PGATOUR.com/DrivingRelief.

“Sunday’s telecast helped raise awareness for the American Nurses Foundation, CDC Foundation and Off Their Plate, three organizations on the frontlines of COVID-19 relief efforts. It’s a credit to the PGA TOUR, corporate partners and the players for making this event a terrific success,” said Pete Bevacqua, president, NBC Sports Group. “On top of the funds raised for these charitable entities, audiences were treated to their first look at Seminole Golf Club, which ultimately was the fifth star on Sunday in its television debut.”

A 2.35 million TAD for Sunday’s live broadcast is relatively flat for average viewership compared to CBS’ and NBC’s 2nd Quarter 2019 PGA TOUR Final Round average (2.32M vs 2.38M average viewership, -2%). Additionally, Persons 25-54 garnered 762,000 average viewers, up 44% vs. CBS/NBC’s 2019 2nd Quarter PGA TOUR Final Round average.

TaylorMade Driving Relief Roundup: Good Reviews But Then, What's There To Quibble About

Well, there were problems. A few doozies though all well-intentioned unless you’re tired of decisions based on chasing a broader audience, made by folks not comfortable enough to just trust the product: super golfers, great course and enough modern television tricks to put on a good show.

Anyway! Overall, in between too many bad production choices was an impressive telecast visually given only six cameras and a plane view—funds were raised for good causes, as Doug Ferguson notes in his AP story.

PGA Tour Charities allowed for online donations during the telecast, raising more than $1 million. The donations will continue until Tuesday. When the exhibition ended, more than $5.5 million had been pledged, starting with the $3 million guarantee from UnitedHeath Group.

Players carried their own bags.

The bag carrying was a great look and arguably the highlight for most golfers. Those caddies should not lose any sleep, as Alan Shipnuck and Dylan Dethier noted in the Golf.com roundtable, there appeared a few moments the players needed a caddy to lean on.

Shipnuck: I think it had more to do with rust, and some wind, but a lot of times they looked off by half-a-club. Makes me wonder if caddies could have had them more dialed in. And nobody made any putts besides Fowler. Again, Seminole’s greens are tough, but I think these guys missed the ritual of confirming their reads.

Dethier: I think a good caddie helps his player commit to shots. A couple of these guys looked like they could have used some help in that department.

Bob Harig at ESPN said there was plenty to wonder about, but mostly appreciated seeing live golf again.

But more than anything, golfers competing and getting a chance to watch them was the star attraction.

"It's a lot of fun to get out here, do something fun and do something for charity,'' Johnson said during the NBC broadcast. "Feels good to get to the golf course and have a little competition. I know we're all looking forward to playing some golf.''

Johnson rather sheepishly admitted earlier in the week that he had not played a round of golf since the Players Championship until May 10. And at times, his game looked a bit ragged, as did parts of the proceedings.

In a perfect world, perhaps there would be some nit-picking, but in the one we are a part of now, this event should be celebrated more than analyzed.

Sam Weinman makes the astute point that from a sports perspective, only one thing mattered: safety, and the relief fund effort passed that taste despite some dreadful physical distancing several times (Ford walking the players in from the parking lot, first Sands interview) and jokes that probably didn’t fit the times (McIlroy on FedExCup money won and Wolff making a testing crack before quickly realizing it wasn’t great).

Two handed out largely positive grades, with me wishing I had David Dusek at Golfweek as my professor, and Dylan Dethier at Golf.com handing out a few D’s and F’s underneath mostly good grades.

Rory On McKellar Podcast: Appreciating Architecture, Ohoopee, Seminole, Carrying His Clubs On Sunday, Swing Ownership, Golf With Trump (Probably Not Again)

Rory McIlroy joins the latest McKellar podcast to discuss this Sunday’s charitable match at Seminole and anything else Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan asked. Thankfully, the hosts did their best Columbo impression and drew all sorts of fun things out of the world no. 1 past the allotted time.

Highlights:

—McIlroy discussed his appreciation for golf course design as he’s gotten older, wiser and played enough less interesting courses.

—Seminole and his fascination with the design.

—He confirmed players will be carrying their bags at this Sunday’s charity relief fundraiser, saying the look of golfers in carts would have been a poor one (perhaps the Woods-Mickelson-Brady-Manning event a week later in carts will rethink that dreadful look).

—Playing with less than 14 clubs and the importance for young players to learn shots by playing and perhaps doing so with fewer clubs in the bag.

—He’s a big fan of Kingston Heath and considered playing the Australian Open there this year just to rekindle his affinity for the course.

—Shared that he is a founding member of Hanse Design’s Ohoopee Match Club and why he loves the course.

—Instruction and the importance of players taking ownership of their swing.

—He discussed his golf with President Donald Trump, was critical of his leadership during the COVID-19 crisis and seems unlikely to accept a future invitation to tee it up.

—McIlroy continues to believe the Ryder Cup should not be played without fans and should be postponed a year if galleries are not permitted at Whistling Straits

Head to the iTunes link to listen or below or wherever you get your podcasts. And don’t forget to support McKellar Magazine!

COVID-19 Relief Fundraiser With Rory, Johnson, Fowler And Wolff In The Works

Two different sources—Barstool’s Riggs and Hank Haney say another foursome is trying to set the pace for COVID-19 fundraisers. Format is unclear with a team component as well as a Skins format mentioned. If you were worried. Riggs says a place called Admiral’s Cove is the likely venue if the event happens May 17th.

Oh, and of course, releases being granted for the players.

That reminds me, no word yet if the PGA Tour has signed off on independent contractor’s Woods and Mickelson who requested releases for The Match 2 with Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, which was announced without Tour sanctioning.

Here’s Haney discussing on his podcast:

Sources are telling me there's a little league warmup Match being created that will jump in front of THE MATCH - Wolff & Fowler vs. Rory & DJ

Check out today's full episode of the Hank Haney Podcasthttps://t.co/moBj1QU8Dn pic.twitter.com/QwmEWTC74a

— Hank Haney (@HankHaney) April 30, 2020

Key to this: Rory telling his Starbucks barista to juice him with a Reserve Blend jolt. Because he’ll need to do a lot of talking over 18 holes to make this TV friendly.

Rory Questions America's "Casual" Coronavirus Response; PGA Of America Says No Discussions "At This Time" About PGA Move

Derek Lawrenson on world No. 1 Rory McIlroy's concern that the United States is taking a less proactive response to the coronavirus causing cancellations of sporting events and concerts.

'It's obviously very worrying but the US seem to be very casual about it compared to the rest of the world,' said McIlroy.

The PGA Tour, meanwhile, has moved from task force to business unit in analyzing the virus, according to Commissioner Jay Monahan. I’m not sure what that means, but here’s what he said Tuesday at the Players regarding the WGC Dell Match Play in Austin two weeks.

I would tell you that it started out as a task force. It's now essentially a business unit, where we have two leaders, Tom Hospel, our medical director, and Alison Keller, our chief administrative officer, who have organized a large team to fully understand the coronavirus and its implications on all facets of our business. I think it goes without saying that the health, safety, well being of our players, our fans, our tournaments, everybody that's involved in our ecosystem is of utmost importance.

Meanwhile, yesterday’s report on discussions to secure a backup PGA Championship venue were inaccurate, a PGA of America statement says. At this time. From Brian Wacker’s GolfDigest.com report:

“Reports that the 2020 PGA Championship will be relocated from TPC Harding Park are inaccurate,” said a statement from the PGA of America released on Tuesday. “At this time, no such discussions have taken place. We continue to carefully monitor this rapidly evolving situation, in close coordination and communication with representatives from San Francisco. We will follow the guidance of state and city officials and public health authorities, keeping the safety and well-being of all involved as our highest priority.”

While they deemed yesterday’s report inaccurate, would anyone fault them for considering back up options?

Rory On Pete Dye Courses: "They're like beer when you're younger"

Fun stuff from Rory McIlroy on Pete Dye as he prepares to defend his Players Championship title. This is the first Players since Dye’s passing earlier this year.

Q. You've mentioned that Pete Dye courses were a little bit of an acquired taste for you. I wonder was there a turning point where you started to feel a little bit more comfortable, could have been Kiawah in 2014 or could have been -- you had three top 10s here in a row early on. When did you start turning the corner on that, and is there a hole out there that still kind of drives you nuts?

RORY MCILROY: So 2010 Whistling Straits was when I turned a corner. I turned up there, it was the PGA Championship, and I hated it. Like I really did not like it. I had to tell myself, look, you just need to like it for one week. Just get your head around liking this place for one week and embracing the fact that it's different and the fact that it's visually a little funky and whatever. I ended up finishing third that week and one shot out of a playoff, and I think that was when I sort of had turned a corner in terms of not necessarily loving Pete Dye golf courses because of -- I think he's a wonderful golf course designer, but I never liked how he made you feel on the golf course in terms of hiding things and angles, and it makes you a little bit uncomfortable, which is obviously his plan. Like he's a wonderful designer of golf courses, but that was the week where I had to embrace what Pete tried to put into his golf courses.

Yeah, going on from there, winning at Kiawah, winning at Crooked Stick, winning here, I've started to quite like them. But as you said, an acquired taste. They're like beer when you're younger. You sort of don't like it but then you think it's cool to drink it and then you sort of acquire a taste for it.

Poor Europe, Files: Rory Says "PGA Tour has given me a platform...to turn me into this golfer and athlete than I am"

Following an opening 66 in the 2020 Arnold Palmer Invitational, Rory McIlroy joined the Golf Channel set to discuss his day.

Rich Lerner opened with a question about the Premier Golf League. (Rory said he was “out” on in Mexico City, yet validated a good portion of the proposed league’s ideas yesterday.)

Thursday at Bay Hill, McIlroy was emphatic about what the PGA Tour has done for him over winning majors or his early years on the European Tour.

The full clip is below, the text:

I’d like to think I’m quite a loyal person, and I think the PGA Tour has given me a platform to showcase my skills, to build my brand, to turn me into this golfer and athlete than I am. I think Jay Monahan and his team do a wonderful job with the tour.

Someone else got his Limited Edition Live Under Par puzzle from the Commissioner!

And look, the reason I said what I said was because, we were in Mexico and some people decided not to go. But that was their choice. That was the freedom that they had. They have autonomy over their schedule and they can pick and choose when and where they want to play. Where if we go to this new way, that’s not going to be the case. You’re going to play 18 events. They’re going to tell you where and when you should be there. As a golfer and an independent contractor, I didn’t like the sound of that.

McIlroy then made clear the league’s Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund money did not sit well, even though the Premier Golf League backers say they have 60 investors.

Didn’t really like where the money was coming from, either. I wanted to be the first one to speak out against it and I’m glad that I have.

And he has, though few others have been as forcefully opposed as McIlroy.

Either way, feel for the European Tour today. McIlroy’s view of what the PGA Tour has meant for his career had to sting.

McIlroy Suggests Pro Golf Needs Streamlining, Might Be Oversaturated

The question came at the end of Rory McIlroy’s press conference in advance of the 2020 Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented By Mastercard. If the Premier Golf League does not happen, what changes might it inspire for the PGA Tour?

What McIlroy presented sounded a lot like…the Premier Golf League!

Ewan Murray reports for The Guardian.

“I don’t want to come across as sort of elitist but I think some smaller fields [would help], maybe a few more events with no cuts,” said the world No 1 when considering how the game can be modified. “There’s so many tournaments and there might be an over-saturation in a way. You look at the NFL and they play 18 games a year, 20 games a year max, and people want it all the time.

“I know football’s different than golf and all that, but I think being a golf fan these days can get quite exhausting following so many different tournaments, different tours, all that stuff. So maybe streamlining it a bit might be a good place to start a conversation.”

McIlroy, as you may recall, announced his opposition to the league’s plans barring a mass exodus of players citing history and the lack of independence.

Also in Murray’s story from Bay Hill was this from Adam Scott, who is still “very positive” about the concept though doesn’t think “it’s going to happen necessarily.”

And this:

“Everyone sees it from somewhat of their own agenda. Being an international player, the thought of a world tour sounds really great. Maybe less so for someone based in Florida who doesn’t have to necessarily travel as much. I don’t think my sentiment has changed at all. I still think it’s fantastic.”

Mexico City Madness: Rory's Stock Yardages This Week

The WGC Mexico City has become a fun opportunity to hear how players adapt to the altitude, while reminding us they can adapt to distance changes (eh em…).

Nice spot by Alex Myers to highlight this McIlroy Legion Tweet of Rory’s adjusted stock numbers, as presumably documented for reference by his bagman Harry Diamond. Also noteworthy: the size of gaps with mid and longer irons. Another reason to roll back the ball!

Rory’s yardages look fun 😳 pic.twitter.com/egH76lSKet

— The McIlroy Legion (@RoryLegion_GC) February 20, 2020

Will Rory's Stance Torpedo The Premier Golf League?

Rory McIlroy’s strong stance against the proposed Premier Golf League looks like a blow to what has been a steady upward trajectory for the upstart rival tour.

However, given that it took nearly a month for a player to definitively declare against it since the league became public knowledge, and coupled Tiger Woods’ assertion last week that proposals like this will keep happening, I’m not sure the folks behind the PGL are hitting delete on their decks just yet.

Here are all of Rory’s comments, as reported by ESPN.com’s Bob Harig, starting with his assertion that he would lose independence going to the structure proposed.

"The more I've thought about it, the more I don't like it,'' McIlroy said at Chapultepec Golf Club, site of this week's WGC-Mexico Championship.

"The one thing as a professional golfer in my position that I value is the fact that I have autonomy and freedom over everything I do," he said. "I pick and choose -- this is a perfect example.

"Some guys this week made the choice not to come to Mexico. If you go and play this other golf league, you're not going to have that choice. I read a thing the other day where it said if you take the money they can tell you what to do. And I think that's my thing, I've never been one for being told what to do, and I like to have that autonomy and freedom over my career, and I feel like I would give that up by going to play this other league.”

Ironic that McIlroy cites a World Golf Championships week, with notable player defections, as an example of the freedom he cherishes. Particularly given that these weeks were designed to prevent an upstart world tour by bringing top players together more often and assuring sponsors of stars convening.

Anyway…

"For me, I'm out. My position is I'm against it until there may come a day that I can't be against it. If everyone else goes, I might not have a choice, but at this point, I don't like what they're proposing.''

And McIlroy didn't see that happening.

"I think it is very split at the moment,'' he said.

Given the strength of the professional game in so many ways, it’s fairly stunning that there is even a split in the first place. And that split seems bound to force significant changes, regardless of the PGL’s fate.

In looking at McIlroy’s comments more closely, it’s no coincidence his stance comes after a wonderful week at a historic tournament and venue, with the revitalized Florida swing looming. So it’s nice to see a sentimental player still exists.

However, that McIlroy also opened the door to joining a mass exodus, hardly makes his stance fatal.

Now, if Tiger reiterated what McIlroy said about the Premier Golf League? That’s a different story.

Full context from @McIlroyRory on the Premier Golf League. pic.twitter.com/onbK5id6c3

— Rex Hoggard (@RexHoggardGC) February 19, 2020

Rory: "If they want to try to contain what we do as touring professionals, I'm all for that."

It’s rare in golf history to have an active player call for sensible regulation or a splitting off of the pros from amateurs, but Rory McIlroy did it yesterday at Riviera.

Speaking in advance of the Genesis Invitational, answering a question from the LA Times’ Mike James who filed this piece on the distance debate:

Q. Rory, where do you see the discussion after the distance insight survey evolving and where would you like to see it end up?

RORY McILROY: How long have you got?

Q. I have lots of time.

RORY McILROY: You know, I think the biggest thing that came out of the report for me, a lot of the stuff about the ball going too far and technology, it really pertains to 0.1 percent of golfers out there. So look, if they want to try to contain what we do as touring professionals, I'm all for that.

Selfishly, I think that that's only a good thing for the better players, but for the game in general, I think one of the best things that came out of it was the sustainability aspect and the fact that architects building these golf courses, and not even architects to a degree, but also the people that are giving the architects the money to build these golf courses with this grand ambition of maybe having a Tour event one day. Building these golf courses on these massive pieces of land, having to use so much water, so much fertilizer, pesticides, all the stuff that we really shouldn't be doing nowadays especially in the climate we live in and everything that's happening in our world. You look at what happened in Australia, you look at what happens in this state every August, September, October time with fires and global warming.

I think golf has a responsibility to minimize its footprint as much as it possibly can. For me, I think the sustainability aspect of what they're trying to do is very important and that's the one thing I would definitely stand behind.

Rory McIlroy Reveals Shocking (For A Golf Pro) Propensity To Read And Enjoy Books

I have no idea what they are doing right at the Independent, but nice to see them essentially posting transcripts of Paul Kimmage’s chats with Rory McIlroy.

This from Part 2 on reading may cause some of his PGA Tour peers leery reading to wonder what the lad is doing. And nice work Kyle Porter…

PK: You're also reading a lot. At the Masters, you had just started a Steve Jobs biography and a book called Digital Minimalism?

RM: Yeah, Cal Newport. He's got Digital Minimalism and another one called Deep Work, about the capability of the human brain, but Digital Minimalism was massive. Kyle Porter from CBS had mentioned it in an article he wrote about Augusta and how it was great that people weren't staring at screens (the no phones policy at the Masters) but were talking and experiencing things.

Digital maximalism is also known as Living Under Par. Just saying…

PK: So you went looking for the book?

Like, in a bookstore? Dangerous!

RM: Yeah, and it made me more . . . aware, I guess. 'Why am I taking my phone out? Is it to learn something? Look at a message? Send an email?' Because when it becomes this (flicks a finger across the palm of his hand) . . .

PK: Sure.

RM: So I get these recommendations from people - Donal (Casey, the CEO of his management team) is a voracious reader - and I'll check them out. There have definitely been books that have resonated with me and authors I've really liked that have helped on, and off, the golf course and yeah, you could call it self-help. There's been a lot of self-help in there.

PK: Let's talk about a few more: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown.
RM: Essentialism was one of the first I read.

PK: What's the nub of that?

RM: Saying no.

Rory On World Tour: "It might be a catalyst for some changes on this tour"

Following his Farmers Insurance Open third round 67, Rory McIlroy joked with us assembled scribblers about the world tour concept upon taking the microphone. Eventually, he was asked about his thoughts on the Premier Golf League concept.

McIlroy’s entire answer:

Q. Rory, can you say what you know about that World Tour? Have you been approached or where 

RORY McILROY: Those guys have been talking to a few of us for six years. They approached me at the end of 2014.

You know, it's a hard one. I think it's…like I love the PGA TOUR, but they definitely, these guys have exploited a couple of holes in the system the way that  the way golf at the highest level is nowadays and how it's sort of transitioned from, you know, a competition tour to entertainment, right? It's on TV, it's people coming out to watch. It's definitely a different time than what it was before.

But I love the PGA TOUR, I love the way golf is set up right now, so it might be that  it might be the catalyst for something a little bit different out here as well, who knows.

But I certainly wouldn't want to lose what's been built in the last 40 or 50 years, tournaments like this, tournaments like Riviera in a couple weeks' time, everything that we have gotten to know and love over the years. I'm still quite a traditionalist, so to have that much of an upheaval in the game I don't think is the right step forward. But I think, as I said, it might be a catalyst for some changes on this tour that can help it grow and move forward and, you know, reward the top players the way they should be, I guess.

It’s noteworthy that he’s expressing a sense of top players that they are underpaid. And that the “product” needs work. And he’s not wrong.

McIlroy On Saudi Decision: "There's a morality to it"

Less noticed from Rory McIlroy’s lengthy Morning Drive appearance was his answer on passing up the European Tour’s Saudi Arabian stop, hosted by the dreadful Crown Prince.

While McIlroy considered himself hypocritical for watching last weekend’s heavyweight bout from Saudi Arabia, he is passing up a reported $2.5 million offer on moral and incovenience grounds, notes G.C. Digital.

"I’d rather play a couple of events on the West Coast and not have to travel all the way to Saudi Arabia," he said. "It’s just not something that would excite me.”

McIlroy hasn't revealed the early part of his 2020 schedule, but last season competed at Kapalua, Torrey Pines and Riviera Country Club. While travel and adhering to a winning formula are part of McIlroy's reasons for skipping the Saudi event, there is another.

"There's a morality to it as well," he said.