Rory McIlory laments PGA Tour-LIV “s***show” 

Seldom does a fifth place finish have such a rousing impact on Rory McIlroy.

Yet despite missing out on a chance for gold at Le Paris National, McIlroy had only positive things to say about his first authentic Olympic experience at Le Paris National.

Representing Ireland, McIlroy was just one off the lead after a stirring Sunday charge, but his hopes found a watery grave with a wedge in his hand from the middle of the 15th fairway as Scottie Scheffler surged to the title.

However, after a week in Tokyo’s sterile Covid Games, McIlroy welcomed what he described as the purest form of competition as the fans came in their thousands to support the event.

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“It’s been amazing,” an upbeat McIlroy said afterwards. “We were talking about it out there and Nico [Hojgaard] reckons it’s the best tournament he’s ever been involved in, and he’s played a Ryder Cup.

“I still think that the Ryder Cup is the best tournament that we have in our game, pure competition, but I do think this has the potential to be right up there with it.

“Think how much of a s***show the game of golf is right now and then think about the two tournaments that might be the purest form of competition in our sport, we don’t play for money in it. So it speaks volumes for what’s important in sports and what’s important, I think every single player this week has had an amazing experience.”

McIlroy has made no secret of his frustration over the delays during prolonged negotiations between the PGA Tour and the breakaway LIV Golf League, with no end in sight for an agreement between the warring factions.

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The 35-year-old is part of the PGA Tour’s Transaction Subcommittee that is trying to thrash out a deal with LIV’s Saudi Arabian backers, but said in Paris on Saturday “I have no idea what’s going on” with regard to the talks.

He is instead more focused on his own game and intent on correcting the issues that he believes have made him the sport’s “nearly man”.

“I feel like I’ve been golf’s nearly man for the last three years,” he added. “I obviously want that tide to turn and go from the nearly man to back to winning golf tournaments. It’s all well and good saying I’m close and close and close. Once I actually step through the threshold and turn these near misses and close calls into wins, that’s what I need to do.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.