Rory McIlroy has thrown shade at Jon Rahm’s ‘rose-tinted glasses’ view that golf is in its ‘golden era’ (Image: Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy has thrown shade at Jon Rahm’s ‘rose-tinted glasses’ view that golf is in its ‘golden era’, despite the PGA Tour-LIV Golf division.
Both McIlroy and Rahm are teeing up at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic this week, and Rahm didn’t shy away from singing praises of the current state of golf, even with the tumult caused by rival factions.
The Spaniard, who switched to LIV Golf in a lucrative deal last December, told reporters on Tuesday: “I think we’re living in a golden era right now for golf where the possibilities are endless. A big tour in Europe and worldwide and a massive tour, the PGA Tour, and you have another big product with live and now you’re even adding the TGL.”
undefined (Image: Getty Images)
His take: “When it comes to golf, the possibilities are there right now. I think with the right minds put together, you can end up with a product, and I’ve been saying this all along, that could put golf at a different level in the world of sport. I’m still hopeful that that can happen and whatever it looks like, it will look like whatever it looks like.”
“But we are in that position nowadays to put golf in a higher level and I hope that happens.”
McIlroy, however, begs to differ as he lands in the thick of the negotiations aimed at brokering peace between the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed PIF.
“Very rose-tinted glasses if you ask me,” McIlroy commented on Rahm’s perspective in Dubai.
“There are amazing players, right. There are amazing players that play in all different tours and parts of the world and everything, which is great. But at the same time, it’s become too fractured and too disjointed.”
He added: “I would share his optimism if the game wasn’t as disjointed and as fractured as it was. You know, maybe we’ll get to that point sometime in the near future, and if we do, then I would say, I would share that optimism.”
Despite the division, McIlroy did acknowledge some positives within the sport over recent years.
Most notably, the 35-year-old highlighted the opportunity to expand the game globally and beyond the stronghold of the United States.
“I think what I would say is with everything that’s happened in the game over the past two or three years, I think what I maybe could envision is that the domination of the American side of things might come back a little bit in terms of, not that the game has never been global, but you know, sort of trying to build on the opportunities globally.”
McIlroy said: “So I think where we are, I think we are in a good position to try to grow that part of it.”
This week, McIlroy returns to Emirates Golf Club, where he claimed his fourth title last year, and will tee off alongside Ryder Cup teammates Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland on Thursday.