Rory McIlroy: Unpaid Olympic Games up there with Ryder Cup while rest of golf is a s—show

Rory McIlroy typically isn’t thrilled with a fifth-place finish, but the Olympic tournament brought out a different side of him. Describing it as “the best tournament I’ve ever played in apart from the Ryder Cup,” McIlroy was effusive in his praise for the event. The Ulsterman, who represents Ireland at the Games, was in contention for gold, standing in the middle of the 15th fairway just one shot off the lead after reeling off five birdies in a row. However, a misstep led to a double-bogey, ultimately leaving him four shots behind gold medalist Scottie Scheffler, who edged out Tommy Fleetwood.

Despite the near miss, McIlroy remained upbeat, reflecting on the week’s success for golf. After shooting a final round of 66 to finish 15-under, he shared his thoughts on the unique atmosphere. “It’s been amazing,” McIlroy said. He noted that his final-round playing partner, Nico Hojgaard, also considered it the best tournament he had ever participated in, despite having played in a Ryder Cup.

McIlroy emphasized the purity of the competition, devoid of the financial incentives that often dominate professional golf. He contrasted this with the current tumultuous state of the sport, marked by the ongoing conflict between the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf circuit, which has seen prize money skyrocket as both sides vie for top talent. McIlroy, heavily involved in negotiations to unify the sport, expressed concerns about the sustainability of such financial excess and its potential to alienate fans.

As discussions continue, McIlroy is skeptical about an imminent resolution, citing the overcrowded golf calendar. “There’s so many golf tournaments and not enough weeks in the calendar,” he noted.

McIlroy and his wife Erica plan to stay in Paris until Tuesday to take in more Olympic events. Reflecting on his experience, he noted that this was the first Games where he truly felt the Olympic spirit, contrasting it with the more isolated experience in Tokyo due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Looking ahead, McIlroy will soon return to competition, participating in the three-week FedEx Cup play-offs in Memphis. Acknowledging that he hasn’t won a major in a decade since missing the cut at the US Open, McIlroy admitted feeling a sense of urgency. “I feel like I’ve been golf’s nearly man for the last three years,” he said. “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.”