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Tag: McIlroy

PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy has message about possible LIV merger

Rory McIlroy has a blunt message for people who are upset with a potential PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger: “Get over it.”

McIlroy, 35, said those who turned down exorbitant offers from LIV to remain loyal to the PGA Tour should welcome a reunified sport.

“I think everyone has just got to get over it, and we all have to say, ‘OK, this is the starting point and we move forward.’ We don’t look behind us, we don’t look to the past,” McIlroy said last week. “Whatever has happened has happened, and it’s been unfortunate. But reunification, how we all come back together and move forward, that’s the best thing for everyone.

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Rory McIlroy during the final round of the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines. (Denis Poroy-Imagn Images)

“If people are butt-hurt, or have their feelings hurt because guys went or whatever, like who cares? Let’s move forward together and let’s just try to get this thing going again and do what’s best for the game.”

McIlroy was once one of the most, if not the most, outspoken critics of LIV among PGA Tour players.

McIlroy said LIV has ultimately benefited everyone, as the purses for winning PGA events have increased. McIlroy cited the Genesis Invitational as an example, as the purse Ludvig Aberg took home was $4 million, and the overall purse was $20 million.

“That would have never happened if LIV hadn’t have come around,” McIlroy said.

TRUMP ‘NOT A FAN’ OF LIV FORMAT, ON PGA TOUR’S ‘SIDE’ OF DISCUSSIONS, RORY MCILROY SAYS

Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot during the final round of the Genesis Invitational. (Denis Poroy-Imagn Images)

Adam Scott, a member of the PGA Tour board, understands if people would be upset about reunification.

“I wouldn’t be surprised – or I wouldn’t judge anyone, the members – if reunification happened and they weren’t happy with how it happened,” Scott said.

“I wouldn’t hold it against anybody if there were negative emotions attached to it, the thought of players coming back.”

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Adam Scott lines up his putt on the 11th hole during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Spyglass Hill Golf Course. (Kyle Terada-Imagn Images)

Scott was part of a group that met with President Donald Trump about a potential reunification, as PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan asked for Trump to get involved.

“It’s not been an easy thing to solve, otherwise we’d have solved it, I believe,” Monahan said.

For whenever it gets solved, McIlroy’s message will ring loud and clear to those upset.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.

February 18, 2025
Rory McIlroy snaps at fan’s caddie critique during Genesis Invitational meltdown: ‘Shut the f— up’

Rory McIlroy’s finish at Torrey Pines over the weekend wasn’t going well, and when one fan criticized his caddie, it pushed the wrong button.

McIlroy fell down the leaderboard at the Genesis Invitational after some poor putting, leaving him T-17th for the tournament at 3-under when the final scorecard was signed.

Well, one fan was heard yelling, “Blame your caddie,” according to golf reporter Dan Rapoport.

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Rory McIlroy stands on the first hole during the final round of the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines. (Denis Poroy-Imagn Images)

“Shut the f— up,” Rapoport said McIlroy retorted.

The fan’s callout to McIlroy came after a missed 12-foot putt that went just past the hole on the right for a missed birdie.

McIlroy’s caddie, Harry Diamond, has been with the PGA Tour star since 2017. Their relationship as childhood friends runs deeper.

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The struggles for McIlroy on the green came on Saturday, as he finished last in shots gained for the day. And there were no major adjustments in his final round on Sunday.

Putting, though, has been a major sticking point for McIlroy since his disastrous meltdown at the 2024 U.S. Open, which Bryson DeChambeau ultimately won.

McIlroy missed two short putts in the final round at Pinehurst No. 2, and those mistakes led to him missing out on his closest chance at his first major since 2014.

Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the second hole during the final round of the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines. (Denis Poroy-Imagn Images)

Naturally, Diamond was brought into the conversation for the reads on those putts, as well as a club choice on the par-3 15th hole in the final round that led McIlroy to hitting it over the green. He would finish with a bogey there.

“You know it’s certainly unfair,” McIlroy said, via Golf Week, in defense of Diamond after the U.S. Open finish.

“But just because Harry is not as vocal or loud with his words as other caddies, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t say anything and that he doesn’t do anything. I just wish that, you know, these guys that criticize when things don’t go my way, they never say anything good when things do go my way. So where were they when I won Dubai earlier this year or Quail Hollow or the two FedEx Cups that I’ve won with Harry or the two Ryder Cups or whatever? They are never there to say Harry did such a great job when I win, but they are always there to criticize when we don’t win.”

Rory McIlroy hits out of the bunker on the 18th hole during the third round of the Genesis Invitational. (Denis Poroy-Imagn Images)

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McIlroy won earlier this year as well, taking home the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with a 21-under finish to beat Shane Lowry by two strokes. McIlroy took home $3.6 million at the PGA Tour signature event.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 17, 2025
Trump ‘not a fan’ of LIV format, on PGA Tour’s ‘side’ of discussions, Rory McIlroy says

President Donald Trump recently met with members of the PGA Tour in efforts to advance their discussions with LIV Golf and, apparently, he favors one side more than the other.

In June 2023, the rival tours announced that the two had been in discussions to eventually join forces. But, after stalled conversations, the PGA called on Trump to advance the negotiations.

Well, outside the negotiation table, golf legend Rory McIlroy said he played a round with Trump “a few weeks ago,” and the two had a “really good” discussion.

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Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the sixth hole during the final round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado, on Aug 25, 2024. (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

McIlroy then broke some news.

“I learned that he’s not a fan of the LIV format. I think he’s… he’s on the [PGA] Tour’s side,” McIlroy said.

Trump has hosted LIV Golf tournaments at his courses since the league’s inception in 2022; a Trump course last hosted a PGA event in 2016.

It is an about-face by McIlroy, who said in 2020 he would not play golf with Trump again as he questioned the president’s leadership in the early stages of the pandemic.

PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan recently said the tour “asked” Trump “to get involved for the good of the game, the good of the country and for all the countries involved.”

Former President Donald Trump follows his tee shot on the 3rd tee during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Aug. 10, 2023. (Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

TIGER WOODS WITHDRAWS FROM GENESIS INVITATIONAL AFTER DEATH OF MOM

Adam Scott, a member of the PGA Tour’s Player Advisory Board, was at the meeting, and said Trump’s “love” for the game could be “helpful” to an eventual deal.

“It’s just a positive thing that the President of the United States is such a lover of the game of golf and understands some of the challenges facing the professional game at the moment…” Scott told Golf Channel this week ahead of the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines in San Diego, California. “He’s a lover of the game and hopefully can be very helpful in getting a resolve for the professional game and help everybody move forward.”

“It’s pretty easy to tie him to the game of golf. He’s passionate about it, he owns several golf properties, fabulous destinations around the world, and he has a relationship with Saudi Arabia, the Public Investment Fund, and he’s a fan of the PGA Tour as well, certainly a fan of Tiger Woods, like we all are,” Scott added. “Given that this has been tied up in government beliefs, he can be very helpful.”

McIlroy did say back in November that he felt Trump becoming president for the second time could help “clear the way” for a deal between the PGA and LIV.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy waves after his round during day two of The Open at Royal Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland, on July 19, 2024. (Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)

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Four-time major champion McIlroy was recently a part of a 2-on-2 exhibition, partnering with Scottie Scheffler against Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.

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February 13, 2025
Rory McIlroy offers condolences to fellow golfer Tiger Woods after death of Woods’ mother

Tiger Woods is mourning the death of his mother, Kultida Woods, describing her In a social media post as “a force of nature all her own.”

Woods said she died Tuesday morning.

“It is with heartfelt sadness that I want to share that my dear mother, Kultida Woods, passed away early this morning,” he said. “My Mom was a force of nature all her own, her spirit was simply undeniable. She was quick with the needle and a laugh.”

Woods did not share details about his mother’s cause of death.

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Golfer Tiger Woods, right, hugs mother Kultida Woods during a press conference at TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Feb. 19, 2010. (Lori Moffett/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Fellow professional golfer Rory McIlroy also paid tribute to Woods’ late mother. During a press conference after a TGL event, McIlroy recalled Kultida Woods’ most recent show of support for her son. Last week, she watched Tiger participate in a simulator-based series in Florida.

“Yeah, obviously very sad, sort of surreal. She was here last Monday night. Yeah, it seemed sudden. I got to know Tida a little bit. She was always very warm, very courteous and generous with her time. Yeah, it was always a delight to see her at tournaments,” McIlroy said.

Tiger Woods and his mother, Kultida Woods, react as they pose for photos before his induction at the 2022 World Golf Hall of Fame at the PGA Tour Global Home March 9, 2022, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

“As time went on, you sort of saw her less and less, and you’d bump into her in player dining, and it was always nice to see her. She always had a big smile. Yeah, you obviously feel for Tiger and Sam and Charlie and wish them all the best. Yeah, it’s a sad day.”

TRUMP OFFERS TIGER WOODS HIS CONDOLENCES AFTER DEATH OF GOLFER’S MOM

McIlroy, Woods and TMRW Sports founder Mike McCarley partnered with the PGA Tour to launch the golf league, which is in its inaugural season. TGL also honored Woods’ mother before Tuesday’s match between Boston Common Golf and Los Angeles Golf Club.

“Prior to the match tonight here at SoFi Center, we held a moment of silence honoring Tida Woods, who was so instrumental in Tiger’s life and his success. Throughout his amateur career as a young phenom in California and through his major championships and even here at TGL, the very league her son co-founded, she was here to support him,” ESPN’s Matt Barrie said during the broadcast.

“Last week, in fact, last Monday, Tida was ever present here at SoFi Center, cheering on Tiger, who got the win. Our thoughts and prayers are with Tiger, Charlie and Sam and everyone for the loss of Tida Woods. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

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Kultida met Earl while he was in the military in Thailand. Kultida and Earl moved to Brooklyn, New York, after they tied the knot. The couple later relocated to Cypress, California, where Tiger was born. Earl Woods died in California in 2006.

ESPN noted that Tiger, whose real name is Eldrick, was named after his mother and father. The name Eldrick begins with an E in honor of Earl and ends with a K in honor of Kultida.

Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 6, 2025
Rory McIlroy dunks 2nd career hole-in-one at Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Rory McIlroy’s time at the new TGL has paid off early.

Days after competing in his and Tiger Woods’ joint simulator league in Jupiter, Fla., McIlroy drilled an ace at Spyglass Golf Course at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Thursday.

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On the par-three 15th, McIlroy took a wedge from 119 yards out and hit a dart right at the hole.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates after chipping into the hole his third shot for a par on the par 3, 17th hole during the second round of the 2024 U.S. Open on The No.2 Course at The Pinehurst Resort on June 14, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (David Cannon/Getty Images)

And that’s not hyperbole – McIlroy dunked his golf ball right into the hole without a bounce.

It was the second hole-in-one the four-time major champion has hit on tour. His first came in 2023 at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.

McIlroy is ranked third in the world, behind Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele.

It’s McIlroy’s first event of the new PGA season. He started his first round on the 10th hole, so the ace got him to three-under through six on the day.

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Aug. 25, 2024; Castle Rock, Colorado: Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the sixth hole during the final round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at Castle Pines Golf Club. (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA Today Sports)

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It’s a nice start to the season for McIlroy, who is hoping for better fortunes this year than last. McIlroy owned the U.S. Open lead late last year with a chance to snap his decade-long major drought. However, after he missed six feet worth of two putts on the final three holes, Bryson DeChambeau stole the trophy from underneath him.

That came just months after Cameron Smith squeaked out a win at the Open Championship the year prior over McIlroy in the final round.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland laughs in a press conference following the Pro-Am prior to the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 10, 2024 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Harry How/Getty Images)

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McIlroy has been participating in the aforementioned TGL, which started earlier this week. McIlroy, Woods, Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa are all team captains, with other PGA stars like Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay, Hideki Matsuyama and Max Homa all playing.

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January 30, 2025