Before Rory McIlroy got down to the serious business of golf down there south of the border in Mexico City, he needed to clear the air of a foul odor that has seeped its way into the world of golf.
The mysterious smell is that of the Premier Golf League, that shadowy, sinister proposal that seeks to create a new order in the world of golf, one that seeks to divert talent away from the PGA Tour in the direction of some cockamamie team concept.
The world’s No. 1 was direct and to the point in his opinion of the PSL.
“The more I’ve thought about it, the more I don’t like it,” Rory proclaimed. “The one thing as a professional golfer in my position that I value is the fact that I have autonomy and freedom over everything that I do. If you go and play this other golf league, you’re not going to have that choice.”
The PSL is trying to lure players with money, alleged to be from Saudi sources. “For me, I’m out,” McIlroy said matter-of-factly “My position is I’m against it until there may come a day that I can’t be against it,” McIlroy said. “If everyone else goes, I might not have a choice, but at this point, yeah, I don’t like what they’re proposing.”
At last week’s Player Advisory Council meeting, McIlroy said it’s about legacy.
“I would like to be on the right side of history with this one, just sort of as Arnold (Palmer) was with the whole Greg Norman thing in the ’90s,” McIlroy went on. “I value a lot of other things over money, and that’s sort of my stance on it at this point.”
With that behind him, McIlroy got down to the serious business on day one at the Club de Golf Chapultepec. Last year he locked horns with Dustin Johnson from the get-go. D.J. opened with 63, Rory 64 and D.J. ended up beating Rory by five.
That won’t happen this week.
The old Club de Golf put up its dukes a bit. Conditions were perfect. There would be no 63 from D.J. In fact, his day was a nightmare, he shot 76, his first over-par outing in his last 13 rounds there.
No issues for Rory. He came out of the blocks fast, bombed a 346-yard drive on the par five 11th, his second hole of the day, planted his seocnd within 26 feet then holed it for eagle.
Rory was three-under at the turn then turned it on over his last four holes, getting birdies on three of those coming home for an impressive 65 — six-under on the tree-lined layout.
By day’s end, Rory found himself two shots better than Bubba Watson and Justin Thomas, who both finished four-under.
“I putted better than I did last week,” McIlroy was quick to point out after his round. “I took advantage of how I drove the ball,” said McIlroy, who was launching drives past the 370 mark. His drive at the 15th went 378. “I took advantage of the par fives,” said McIlroy, he played the three par fives in four-under. He credited that eagle putt on his second hole of the day as the one that set the table. “To see a putt go in early was nice,” he said.
McIlroy also revealed that he switched back to the putter he used last year. “Happy to have the old putter back in the bag,” he said.
“I like this place. I like the golf course. I seem to play well at altitude.”
With drives going 367, 378 and 356, it’s easy to understand why.
Rory didn’t lose last year, D.J. just out-scored him.
Won’t happen this time.
2 Comments
baxter cepeda
Pretty boss move by Rory. Especially playing well after that statement.
As Rory said Autonomy is a beautiful thing. I don’t see so much more money proposed here that any top players will give up their freedom.
But Tom, you criticize the pga tour all the time for hiding behind their tax status. These people are straight business. These proposals keep the pga tour honest, at the least, in having to compensate players as deserved; as the market allows.
That being said if someone wants to steal elite golf from the pga tour, as Rory said, they are going to have to give a much better offer.
Tom Edrington
No world ranking points will kill any pretend league; A pretty famous golf agent says that endorsement money is tied to world rankings; Sooooo, keep in mind these guys make a helluva lot more money off the course than on it…..just ask Tiger….