Rory McIlroy’s Masters win would have ‘asterisk’ as LIV star makes daring declare
Talor Gooch from LIV Golf has thrown a pointy jibe at PGA Tour’s Rory McIlroy about The Masters. The LIV Golf star questioned whether or not McIlroy would get full respect for conquering the well-known match.
McIlroy may have one other go at successful the large match in April that he hasn’t received but. But Gooch reckons if McIlroy wins, it will not be fairly proper.
McIlroy was actually near successful final 12 months when he got here second to Scottie Scheffler. If McIlroy will get to put on the winner’s Green Jacket at Augusta in 2024, he’ll do it with out some LIV gamers there, like Gooch. Gooch informed Australian Golf Digest that the absences would change the notion.
“If Rory Mcllroy goes and completes his Grand Slam without some of the best players in the world, there’s just going to be an asterisk. It’s just the reality,” Gooch mentioned. “I think everybody wins whenever the majors figure out a way to get the best players in the world there.”
McIlroy
Gooch LIV Golf particular person title in 2023, however he did not get to hitch the Masters as LIV’s world rankings issues continued.
This 12 months’s exterior invitations went to the Australian Open and LIV Mayakoba champion Joaquin Niemann, the European tour rookie of the 12 months Ryo Hisatsune, and Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen. Gooch, who received three LIV occasions final season, has seen his world rating drop to No. 247.
Despite his success on the circuit in 2023, those that play on the Saudi-backed circuit will not be awarded rating factors. Though he may nonetheless be provided a late invitation for The Masters, a disillusioned Gooch mentioned he’s not stunned by the key’s determination.
“I think the majors have kind of shown that they’re not getting on board with LIV,” he mentioned. “‘Jaco’ [Niemann] went outside of LIV and played some great golf, and they rewarded him for that. So, hopefully, the day will turn when the majors decide to start rewarding good play on LIV.”
After LIV’s season-ending occasion in Miami in 2023, Gooch added: “Being able to play in the majors, it’s the pinnacle of golf, so if I don’t get that chance, that’s going to suck.” His fellow LIV star Jon Rahm, might be at The Masters having received the title in 2023. McIlroy missed the reduce a 12 months in the past and he’ll hope to have a stronger marketing campaign in 2024.
Back in September, McIlroy tried to clarify what has prevented him from successful the match. Rather than having something to do together with his talent, he thinks it has to do together with his psychological strategy.
“I think sometimes because it’s the one I haven’t won, the only thing I think about that week is winning it,” McIlroy mentioned throughout an appearance on GOLF’s Subpar. “And that’s not the way to approach a golf tournament.” He added: “I probably get in my head a little too much around there at times. But there have been other times where I’ve handled it ok and I’ve had good results.”