Even though Rory McIlroy was not directly involved in Jordan Spieth’s disqualification from the Genesis Invitational, the media wanted to hear his side of the story.
The reporter who questioned McIlroy explained that many people had voiced their disdain for the rule in the past 24 hours.Some people feel that way I signed the scorecard incorrectly. Do not justify disqualification.
McIlroy, 34, likely would have voiced his opinion, as he has done on a variety of subjects over the past few years, but not this time.
McIlroy rode the fence instead.
“If we’re trying to keep this game from polarizing, [have] “If professionals are to play by the same rules as amateurs, then we all need to keep scorecards of our playing partners and we have a responsibility to that,” he said.
“I also see the other side of the coin where there are thousands of people watching us. Every shot is tracked on Shot Tracker and the PGA Tour app. Is it necessary at this point? I’m also a traditionalist. I don’t think it needs to change because it’s worked for a long time.”
Has the four-time major champion ever had an incident like Spaeth’s, where he signed the wrong number?
No, but McIlroy is close to it.
But McIlroy was at the center of a rules controversy a few weeks ago. He made an errant drop at Pebble Beach and lost two strokes.
“I think as a professional golfer, that’s the only thing you can do, and I understand Jordan, he was hot when he came off the golf course. That’s a no-brainer,” McIlroy said.
“But yeah, it’s just a bummer for him and a bummer for the tournament that he’s not there.”
McIlroy sympathized with Spieth, but saying the PGA Tour needed to modify the ruling wasn’t enough. Unlike what McIlroy fans have come to watch in recent years, he stayed on the fence and let others fight it out.
Savannah Lee Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.If you want to know more about golf, please follow us. @_PlayingThrough On all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirls and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
