Rory McIlroy expressed astonishment on Thursday that remarks he made the day before about Tiger Woods’ and Phil Mickelson’s games being on downward trajectories generated such controversy.
Rory McIlroy clarifies ‘compliment’ to Tiger Woods
Rory McIlroy really did not have to explain his comments about how Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were getting older -- news flash: they are! -- and clarification of his original defense just muddies the waters.
Kevin C. Cox
The world No. 1, who termed his sudden breakup with then-fiancee Caroline Wozniacki “amicable and mutual,” also said that he was exalting golf’s popular but aging superstars by saying they were on the “last few holes” of their careers.
Rory McIlroy
“I was going through Twitter last night and it was like, ‘Hold on here, did I say something bad here? I don’t think I did,’” McIlroy, who opened the Tour Championship with a 1-under 69 that put him three shots back of 18-hole co-leaders Chris Kirk and Billy Horschel, told ESPN’s Bob Harig. “I know Tiger and Phil really well. I get on really well with both guys. I’ve said much worse to Tiger before.
“I felt like I had to clarify what I said,” McIlroy added. “I thought I was very complimentary.”
During a Wednesday press conference ahead of the final of four FedEx Cup playoff games, McIlroy candidly answered a question about whether he represented a “changing of the guard” in the game with Woods and Mickelson absent.
“Not really,” he responded. “Phil has played well in part this year. He came really close to winning the PGA [Championship]. I feel like he’s gotten better as the year has went on but it’s a lot of golf for him to play in such a short space of time. So you could see he was getting a little tired the last couple of weeks.
”And Tiger’s not here just because he’s been injured ... He hasn’t had the opportunity to play. But I think if he gets back and when he gets back to full fitness, you’ll see him here again.
“They’re just getting older. Phil’s 43 or whatever he is [44] and Tiger’s nearly 40 [39 in December]. So they’re getting into the sort of last few holes of their career. And that’s what happens. You get injured. Phil has to deal with an arthritic condition as well. So it obviously just gets harder as you get older. I’ll be able to tell you in 20 years how it feels.”
McIlroy, after much ado on social media and elsewhere about his original comments, was compelled to try to set the record straight.
“I said the only reason Tiger wasn’t here was he didn’t have the opportunity [because of injury],” he explained. “I wasn’t writing him or Phil off at all. Phil withdrew last week. It was a long stretch of golf for him. He battles an arthritic condition. It’s just what it is. I didn’t say anything out of line or wrong. I was trying to be funny at the end saying we’ll see how I feel in 20 years. I think you guys know how it was supposed to come out. I think it was taken out of context.”
Tiger and Phil, Photo credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
While we’re in agreement with many who believe that McIlroy was only pointing out the obvious about the injury-plagued Woods and struggling Mickelson, it’s a stretch to imagine how the four-time major champion might consider puncturing golf’s sacred cows a tribute.
But then, this is the same guy who led his followers to believe that his split from tennis star Wozniacki was somehow consensual.
“It was mutual and amicable,” McIlroy said back in May, “and we both thought it was the best for both of us.”
Except that’s not how Wozniacki described the end of sports’ power duo’s three-year relationship.
“I was shocked, I thought at least I would get a face-to-face or something but there was nothing,” the formerly top-ranked tennis player said during an appearance on In Depth with Graham Bensinger. “It was just a phone call and then I did not hear from him again.”
it’s a stretch to imagine how the four-time major champion might consider puncturing golf’s sacred cows a tribute.
Wozniacki acknowledged how difficult the far-from-private situation was for her.
“It was very hard because he made it very public from the start,” she said. “He put out a press release and all of that so it just got put in my face.”
In a little dig at her former betrothed, Wozniacki noted that the next future Mr. Wozzy may be a tad less vertically challenged than the 5’ 8” McIlroy.
“I would like a taller guy so I can wear high heels,” said the 5’ 10” tennis champ. “I look for someone who is honest, fun to be around and doesn’t take himself too seriously.”
Perhaps McIlroy, who last week appeared to join Sergio Garcia in mocking Wozniacki’s particularly bad-hair day, will take that as a compliment.
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