Rory McIlroy’s priorities have changed. At this week’s India DP World Championship, the impact of these changes is materializing.
When LIV Golf arrived on the scene three years ago, McIlroy took on the mantle of PGA Tour spokesperson. He was front and center defending the PGA Tour in its time of need. He worked to reshape the PGA Tour with Signature Events and mandatory appearances. But when the Framework Agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV was announced, McIlroy shifted his focus. He resigned his seat on the board, skipped Signing Events and even dropped a stop in the FedEx Cup Playoffs to focus on playing a more global schedule.
McIlroy hoped pro golf would come together and form a more global tour that would send the sport’s stars around the world, and not just from Florida to California with the occasional stop in the UK, but he clearly understands that the fractured world of golf isn’t going to be magically reunited anytime soon, so he’s taking it upon himself to go to all corners of the globe. He is focusing on opening nationally, from Canada to Ireland and Australia, and playing wherever he wantswhen he wants.
That brings us to India’s inaugural DP World Championship this week, where McIlroy touched down in India for the first time in his career. Now, McIlroy isn’t doing this for free. He understands his value and is getting an appearance fee, as are Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Ben Griffin and Luke Donald. But it would be unfair to assume that he is only doing it for the money. McIlroy has pledged to start playing a more global program and is starting to back it up. He recently cited tennis superstar Roger Federer as an inspiration to start taking his talents to places that don’t normally see him lifting it.
“I think India has a great culture,” McIlroy said Wednesday of his first time in India. “I think the people are incredibly welcoming, hospitable and gentle. … Golf has become a pretty big sport in this country, but I hope I can help it get even bigger.”
“I wish more people would watch golf. That would be amazing,” McIlroy later said of his long-term hope for the growth of golf around the world. “But I would be more interested in getting more people to play the game, and I think when people play the game, then they learn and can accept what golf is, what it stands for, and the kind of etiquette and values ​​that you have to adhere to when you play the game.”
Appearance fees notwithstanding, what’s special about what’s happening in India this week is that this event has never happened before. The event was created out of thin air to give a golf-loving country a groundbreaking new event. DP World’s sponsorship of the event included a $4 million prize fund and a relationship that was integral to introducing McIlroy and others to a golf-hungry country. The downstream impact of people watching Rory McIlroy hit a golf ball, Roger Federer swing a tennis racket or Steph Curry shoot a basketball is immeasurable.
On Thursday, during the first round of the India DP World Championship, the crowds around McIlroy and Viktor Hovland showed the impact an event like this can have.
There were similar scenes at DLF Golf and Country Club when Bryson DeChambeau competed in the International Series in India in January.
“Education, entertainment, inspiration are my three main principles of why I play the game of golf,” DeChambeau said in January of his decision to play in India. “I think this is an amazing opportunity for all of golf to come together and see what India can really produce for the world. And it’s a growing economy, it’s a growing population that needs golf. There’s a lot more to come, so that’s why I’m here.”
Raj Khosla, president of Delhi Golf Club, has said that the tournament headlined by McIlroy is a “Historical Moment” for Indian golf. We hope this event will continue to attract global stars and elevate golf in the world’s most populous country.
The scenes on Thursday and at the DLF in January show the impact the world’s best can have when they break new ground. Rope lines packed to the gills as fans try to catch a glimpse of the skydiving golf stars. Thousands of eyeballs fixed on players who probably never thought they would tie it in their country. The impact is not only felt by those outside the ropes.
“It’s something I’ve dreamed about many times, watching Rory, Tommy on TV and thinking one day I want to play next to them,” said home favorite Dhruv Sheoran, who shot four under in Round 1 to beat McIlroy by one stroke. “It’s a dream come true in a way. I couldn’t sleep at night thinking I’d be playing alongside them, so it’s really surreal to be playing here.”
For McIlroy, competing in places that don’t normally see him, or have never seen him in person, is something he plans to cement into his schedule. He’s still the pinnacle of the PGA Tour, but his priorities are taking a global shift as he focuses on a grander goal of bringing golf to countries with untapped potential to become golf hotbeds.
“I would say over time, my program will hopefully become more international,” McIlroy said. “Because that’s what I’ve enjoyed doing. I’ve always said that. But I think over the last few years, I’ve enjoyed it even more. I’ve enjoyed the travel. I’ve enjoyed playing in front of people I’ve never played with before.”
On Thursday the scene spoke for itself.
