Share

Chamblee: McIlroy will regret his remarks

Cape Town - Rory McIlroy has been catching some heat for his most recent comments on golf at the Olympics, both from inside and outside the sport.

The Northern Irishman responded very candidly when asked if he felt like he'd let the game of golf down by withdrawing from the Olympic Games in Rio.

"I don’t feel like I’ve let the game down at all. I didn’t get into golf to try and grow the game," he said at a press conference ahead of the Open Championship, which starts on Thursday.

"I got into golf to win major championships. I get that I have a responsibility to the game. But at the same time I got into golf to win. I didn’t get into golf to get other people into the game."

McIlroy took another jab when he admitted that he probably wouldn't even watch the golf events in Rio.

"I’ll probably watch the Olympics," he said. "But I’m not sure golf will be one of the events I watch.”

Many felt this was going too far on McIlroy's part, and Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee, who has had his battles with McIlroy in the past, was one of them.

"I think it's likely that, at the end of his career, he'll regret that moment more than any other moment in the history of his career," Chamblee said. "It is an insult to everyone who goes and plays in the Olympics."

Chamblee also questioned McIlroy's stated reason for skipping the Olympics.

"Initially, when he choose not to do that (play in the Olympics) he cited the Zika virus, but in effect today, he said I'm not going, I'm not playing, I'm not watching because it doesn't matter," Chamblee said. "That is an insult to everybody that has spent time to further this game for its inclusion in the Olympics."

Also incensed by McIlroy's comments was British squash player Laura Massaro.

Squash is one of the sports eagerly trying to make its way into the Olympics, and Massaro said McIlroy's comments showed a lack of respect.

"It's frustrating," she said. "There are athletes who would really want it."

"A lot of sports out there would absolutely love their place in the Olympic Games, would see it as a pinnacle and would do everything they can to get an Olympic medal.

"I think his comments are unacceptable. It's a lack of appreciation for how the Olympics can just transcend an individual sport."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2249 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE