Is golf coverage too negative? Rory McIlroy weighs in

Considering all subversion in the professional ranks between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, there has been a lot of negativity to go through over the past few years. But is it guaranteed?

Rory McIlroy says no

In an interview with Kyle Porter on Porter’s digital news platform “normal sport” McIlroy and Porter discussed a variety of topics, from the best players McIlroy faced as a youngster to how becoming a father has helped McIlroy shake off bad rounds.

The conversation also turned to the question McIlroy would like to ask the golf media.

“There are some people in the game that I would say — how can I put this? We’re all in this together, right?” “We’re all in the game of golf together and we all want to get ahead,” McIlroy told Porter. or put it in a bad light. I get that it’s human nature and that’s why CNN is the way it is and all that stuff we’re all in this together and we all know we can benefit by elevating the game, some people in the media I’d like to ask why their coverage of golf is so negative.”

However, when it comes to criticism of individual performances, such as McIlroy’s tough loss at the US Open earlier this year, he says he understands.

“If somebody messes up and you have to be critical of somebody, absolutely,” he told Porter. “I think that’s part of it. I think I, more than anyone, understand this and know it. I’m not saying to be critical of the players. I’m saying be critical of the overall game of golf.”

McIlroy noted that the recreational game is booming and said he wishes those stories could be amplified.

“I think it’s more about covering up the … I think it’s true, but visibility is downand that’s bad, and that’s bad, and they hate the fans and they hate that,” McIlroy said. “I understand where they’re coming from, but it’s certainly in everybody’s best interest to focus on the positives of the game, where recreational golf has never been better, there are more opportunities to play the game. Sometimes I wonder what their motivation is to be so negative.”

Given McIlroy’s elevated stature in the game – not only as one of the best players in the world but also, more recently, as the de facto spokesman for the Tour — The pressure seems to be ever-present to deliver high-level performances in addition to eloquent policy analysis. It’s a big ask and a burden that isn’t likely to ease anytime soon, at least not until there’s more concrete unity between LIV, PIF and the PGA Tour.

You can read Porter’s full interview with McIlroy here.

Editor of Golf.com

As a four-year member of the inaugural class of varsity golfers at Columbia, Jessica can put away anyone on the tee. She can also drive them in the office, where she is primarily responsible for producing print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Issue, which debuted in February 2018. Her series The original interview, “A Round With,” debuted in November 2015 and appeared in both magazine and video form on GOLF.com.