Rory McIlroy comments backfire as Jack Nicklaus gives sweary advice | Golf | Sport
Rory McIlroy has receieved backlash for comments he made (Image: Andrew Redington, Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy is moving closer to becoming just the fourth golfer to successfully defend the Masters. The 36-year-old is attempting to follow in the footsteps of Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods by retaining his title at Augusta National.
The defending champion started Friday as joint-leader alongside Sam Burns and delivered an extraordinary second round performance. McIlroy carded a stunning seven-under-par to establish a commanding six-shot advantage at the halfway stage. While plenty of drama may still unfold, the five-time major winner will be firmly focused on the ultimate prize. Golfing icon Nicklaus is among just three players to win the Masters in consecutive years and offered McIlroy some crucial guidance. The halfway mark also signalled the end of the tournament for several prominent names, including Robert MacIntyre, who failed to make the cut. Here, Express Sport summarises some of the sport’s biggest talking points.
Rory McIlroy faces backlash
Prior to the tournament commencing, McIlroy had the privilege of hosting the Masters Champions Dinner on Tuesday. However, he has faced criticism for his remarks about Irish cuisine.
When questioned about his menu, he told reporters: “People keep asking me, ‘Why didn’t you go more Irish?’ And I said, ‘Because I want to enjoy the dinner as well.'”
The Irish Independent gathered responses from several culinary experts. These included TV chef and food stylist Erica Drum, whose food recommendations to McIlroy featured Irish beef, fish, potatoes and cheeses.
“He didn’t need to do that,” Drum said of McIlroy’s comments. “I feel like he just hasn’t experienced good food.”
Jack Nicklaus advice
As McIlroy attempts to etch his name further into the history books, he has revealed the guidance he received from Jack Nicklaus. The six-time Masters champion successfully defended his crown in 1966 and explained to McIlroy how to replicate the achievement.
Jack Nicklaus discussed McIlroy’s pursuit of a second Masters title (Image: Chris Condon/PGA TOUR)
Speaking to CBS Sports’ Amanda Balionis, McIlroy shared Nicklaus’ words: “No f–ing double bogeys. Apparently, he thought I made too many last year.”
McIlroy ultimately claimed the Green Jacket through a play-off triumph over Justin Rose. However, Nicklaus, 86, anticipated that McIlroy would produce fewer errors having returned to Augusta as champion.
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“When he won the Masters here last year, he now doesn’t have anything more to accomplish. He won the Grand Slam, won all the majors. But he’s got a lot more to prove. He’s still a young guy,” Nicklaus said after Balionis’ interview with McIlroy.
“He’s a great player. The remark I made to him yesterday was that Rory always makes double bogeys or triple bogeys here, which puts him out of the tournament. But maybe now that you’ve won it, he’s a little bit more relaxed and he’s now ready to go prove a little bit more.”
Robert MacIntyre endured a frustrating two days at the Masters (Image: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Robert MacIntyre responds to exit
Some experts had identified Scottish golfer Robert MacIntyre as a potential challenger before the Masters. However, he missed the cut after ending on seven-over.
The 29-year-old had sparked controversy during his opening round when cameras captured him making a middle-finger gesture towards the 15th green. Augusta National is famous for its rigorous code of conduct, which extends to both competitors and spectators, and MacIntyre was reportedly reprimanded for his actions.
Following his exit from the tournament, he shared a picture of a garden gnome displaying a middle finger gesture on his Instagram story. The image also functioned as a nod to the Masters gnomes, highly coveted collectables at Augusta.
