‘Refreshing!’ Fans debate Rory McIlroy’s doubts on PGA Tour entertainment value
By Matt Chivers
Rory McIlroy came up just short on a tough afternoon at Bay Hill, but afterward he questioned if the fans enjoyed watching a tournament that was decided on bogeys rather than birdies
In a final round littered with mistakes and missed putts, Rory McIlroy was creeping up the leaderboard at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
After dropping his sixth birdie of the day on hole 13, McIlroy hit the front in ominous fashion, but he didn’t know this.
His foot appeared to slip as he hooked his tee shot on the par-3 14th hole and this proved to be a critical point when the Northern Irishman was about to take control.
This was one of the many mishaps from the leading pack we saw on the back nine at Bay Hill, as the juicy rough and firm greens began to cause havoc.
“If I look back on today the one thing I’ll rue is the tee shot on 14,” McIlroy said. “I birdied 13 and got on to 14 tee and I honestly thought I was still like one or two behind the lead.
“As I was walking to the 14th green, I looked behind me at the scoreboard, and I was leading by one.
“And if I had known that, I wouldn’t have tried to play the shot that I played on 14, which was unfortunate, but I ended up making a bogey there and then a bad swing off the tee on 15 and a bogey.
“I certainly felt it on the golf course (leaderboard changing), so I’m sure it was pretty good to watch. It’s hard because the lead’s changing hands with guys making bogeys, not really making birdies.
“So (I) don’t know how people find that entertainment value.”
Kurt Kitayama overcame a triple-bogey on hole 9 after his drive went out of bounds to win his first PGA Tour trophy at the fourth designated event of 2023.
It wasn’t the vintage PGA Tour weekend we’ve become accustomed to with birdies and eagles popping up all over the golf course.
It was attritional as McIlroy, Kitayama, Scottie Scheffler, Tyrrell Hatton, Jordan Spieth, and Viktor Hovland all had frustrating moments on Sunday afternoon.
But McIlroy’s comments after the action in Florida got us thinking. Do golf fans enjoy watching their favourite players excel or struggle?
Some viewers may find reassurance when an elite player dunks one in the water, but others might just want to see the best compete against the best, and play their best golf.
NCG posed the question on social media on McIlroy’s quotes and we received some mixed responses…
What do you prefer: loads of birdies or loads of bogeys? Tweet me and let me know!
Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
