Rory-Faldo Row In Full Force As McIlroy Hits Back

Derek Lawrenson on Rory McIlory hitting back at Nick Faldo regarding the former Open Champion's criticism of the lad's work ethic and club switch.

‘I saw what Nick said, that I should be on the course between nine and five,’ said McIlroy. ‘Well, I was on the range at 6.15am and got out of the gym at 6.15pm, so that’s a 12-hour day compared to his eight-hour day.

James Lawton offered this assessment:

The huge difference which the 24-year-old Ulsterman is not shy to emphasise is that he will never mistake golf for the beginning and the end of the meaning of his life. “I will work as hard as I can,” he promises, “but there are other things which are important too.”

Faldo, who according to his former wife Jill, arranged for the inducing of the births of their three children so as to cause least disruption to his tournament schedule, is arguing that McIlroy needs to work a nine-to-five shift on the course and the practice range – and that for a few pivotal years he should shut out all those distractions which tend to come to a young man with a fortune of £68m accumulated in a few years. These, presumably, also include McIlroy’s Danish girlfriend and tennis star, Caroline Wozniacki.

Comments

[GolfFan]

Rory needs to play more and practice less, practice isn't playing. Practice will lead to another M/C and that's not Mastercard

[Tom]

Excellent so a guy who's gone through 4 wives is giving advice on how to handle life outside of golf, or the lack thereof having a life. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but Rory handled it perfect, basically telling Faldo to stuff it.

Its hilarious when people speculate about whether someone is working hard enough. Happens with every analyst in every sport.

[John Matthew IV]

I believe Sir Nick has only had three wives.

He was asked for his advice to Rory and gave it.

Rory was very professional in his reply.

[Abu Dhabi Golfer]

Shooting a 79 to tie Faldo after the first round after all this?

#Embarassing

[Press Agent]

I like Rory, but not as much as I used to and my opinion of him is in decline. Signing the contract with Nike was not supposed to be the finish line, it was supposed to be somewhere, just after the beginning. In his press conference last night he said "I don't see what the big deal is, I've got a good life."

You can criticize Nick for being too obsessive, sure, but I know lots of working class fellows, for instance drilling engineers on North Sea rigs who have to schedule family life, outside of work life, including child birth. And playing golf, especially majors is work for these guys, it's what they do for a living.

Nick's reply to a question was nowhere near as bad as some would like to make it out to be, and I agree ADG, it is embarrassing for Rory to tie Nick - a television analyst, after all this. If you can come out of the booth and tie the world's number 2, something is wrong.