The Irish Open

Don't have time to write anything like a Kwini-esque preview, but I thought there may be some discussion to be had over the next few days

C'mon GMac!

C'mon Rory!!!!!!
See you soon.......

McDowell +2 after twelve holes. What's wrong with that boy?

Unfortunately I see he's currently tied with Robert Rock. Rock must be extraordinarily unlucky not to have qualified for the Bridgestone, and he'll be even unluckier if he just misses out on the PGA too.

Hope he's got his visa ready, just in case . . . . .

kwinigolfer wrote:McDowell +2 after twelve holes. What's wrong with that boy?

Saw a clip on skysports news this morning and he's putting the real dodgy rounds he's had recently down to trying to hard and not being more patient.
I remember someone giving words of advice to Paul Lawrie after Paul admitted he'd often find himself thinking, "That's not the shot of a Major Champion." Perhaps something similar with Graeme here.

Gmac got himself back to level now (after 15). Steadied the ship perhaps

GMac +1 again with one to play

Young Rory takes a 6 on the last to finish -1

Nice little twitter-spat (should that be called a tw@t?) developing between Rory and some journalist

Jay Townsend
McIlroy's course management was shocking

Rory Mcilroy
@JayATownsend shut up.... You're a commentator and a failed golfer, your opinion means nothing!

Jay Townsend
Some of the worst course management I have ever seen beyond under 10's boys golf competition

Jay Townsend
@McIlroyRory Sorry, but I stand by my comments

Rory Mcilroy
@JayATownsend well, I stand by my caddie

Jay Townsend
wenners just made a great point, @mcilroyrory should hire Stevie Williams, as I thought JP allowed some SHOCKING course management today

Kwini.I wondered about Rock getting into either of those no idea of the qualifying criteria.Interview with him after the Open suggesting he felt his goals for the season had gone.But theres world ranking ,RTD,seve Trophy etc.
Our club newsletter this month stated that Rob played his first ever pro event at our club about 12 yrs back,called in as a late reserve and in fact played with yours truly and partners.Wonder if he remembers it.

Rory needs to watch himself. Major winner or not, I think his public opinion took a dive after allegedly hooking up with y'on tennis ace. Attacking Mr Townsend so aggressively won't do him any favours. Still unsure about JP, not convinced he has arrested his Masters demons.

This is the reason I cannot take to Rory yes well done on the US Open young lad, but your a professional sportsman now so learn to accept the fact you will be publically critiscised and get on with it.

He is to juvenile in his attitude for me to think he will use his US Open to propell him to being what many think is the new messiah of golf. I do not buy the he's young trash either, he has a management team to help him deal with the press and needs to learn to focus his attentions to what he does on the course not what is said off of it

Fully agree with the above. The 'youth' excuse has run out. I would be very surprised if Chubby didn't give him a clip around the ear.

Jay Townsend made an absurd statement relating to Steve Williams.
The Williams/Woods combination was responsible for some horrific course management. Just as bad, if not worse than McIlroy.

I'm happy for McIlroy to have a go back, perhaps not so aggressively. It's only fair.

There have certainly been times when I wish Rory would bite his tongue and this is another occasion where he really will do himself no favours getting into it with a journalist who is obviously just looking to stir things up.

But if he did he would be just like the assembly line of new pros that get chucked out every year in the states… Do you really want to hear the same old politically correct clichés spewed out at every press conference?

I personally prefer that he says what he thinks even if I do have the odd occasion where I am cringing.

I think Rory’s biggest problem is that he twitters as if he is twittering to his mates. The trouble is the world is watching everything.

yet agian rory proves that a lack of education will hurt you in later life. His parents may have worked 6 jobs but maybe they should have spent some time reading bed time stories. How about the one where a child star without a childhood ends up addicted to coke, girls, crack, kids?? or whatever.

McLaren wrote:yet agian rory proves that a lack of education will hurt you in later life. His parents may have worked 6 jobs but maybe they should have spent some time reading bed time stories. How about the one where a child star without a childhood ends up addicted to coke, girls, crack, kids?? or whatever.

That's a giant leap from being a bit rude to a critical ex-pro turned commentator on a social network. Touch harsh on the boy.

Smithers, Mac is a curious fellow, one moment he's a yoghurt knitting, tree hugging lily livered Guardian reading liberal, next he's a Daily Heil reading, sensationalist, over the top shock jock.

McLaren,that's a bit over the top.

I can't stand Jay Townsend, I'm with Rory on this one, the american is nothing but a failed golfer who is extremely annoying in both the way he sounds and looks. Listening to the Open on 5Live he was constantly arrogant and looking for conflict with his fellow commentators.

Is it really that far from the truth to say McIlroy lacks some key perspective and the ability to react within reason to critism?

McLaren wrote:Is it really that far from the truth to say McIlroy lacks some key perspective and the ability to react within reason to critism?

Had that been waht you said originally mac then no-one could dispute that but to talk of coke, booze and crack addiction was too much and hardly relevant toward the issue at hand...

Mac, people are all different, he has no requirement to act like a soul-less American tour pro acting with stock media trained answers.
He can say whatever he likes, after all he's subject to unwarranted criticism. Surely he has a right to defend himself, regardless of how he says it.
Jay Townsend was also by all accounts out of order in the way he made his point, and he has had the benfit of media training. How come you aren't having a go at him?

Do we know the story behind Rory's "double" on 18 or any other course management errors he may have made? Depending on what happened, Townsend may well have a point rather than (as you call it) "unwarranted criticism"

Perhaps Davie, but the way in which he said it was deliberately provocative and he also suggested Steve Williams could help him with course management, which is ironic to say the least.

Just done a little digging around. Apparently young Rors took a driver on 18 when most players were laying up short of fairway bunkers. Rors' driver took him into the bunker which caused Townsend's first criticism of his course management. He then apparently pulled his bunker shot into a pond left of the green which made Townsend back up his original comment

As the ball was still in the air and headed towards the pomd, Townsend said, "There you go, that's why you don't hit it in the bunker -- watch this. You guys talked about 'refreshing,' the way he plays. He plays silly. Several times already today."

Could that be labelled anything other than poor course management then or just aggressive strategy that went wrong.. It's easy for us to comment on what we think is poor sat in our arm chairs. Now i'm not defending Rors as i'm not a huge fan but only he and his caddy know the reasons for that plan and had he carried the bunkers could have been labelled as great risk reward so who knows....

Exactly Mav - it's their call, but they should accept any criticism of it a little more graciously (or just ignore it). I found his outburst pretty incredible really

That was the point of my earlier comment to Davie. Rory could simply have said in your opinon Jay it was bad but in mine the reward for the risk of carrying the bunkers at the time was worth it. But instead he spat his dummy out and acted like a brat hence again the reason I cannot take to the kid...

Davie wrote:Exactly Mav - it's their call, but they should accept any criticism of it a little more graciously (or just ignore it). I found his outburst pretty incredible really

Spot on, can any of that be disputed?

I'm sure if you'd said to the hosts that a green, white and orange flag would be atop the leaderboard after the first round they'd have been delighted.

McLaren wrote:yet agian rory proves that a lack of education will hurt you in later life. His parents may have worked 6 jobs but maybe they should have spent some time reading bed time stories. How about the one where a child star without a childhood ends up addicted to coke, girls, crack, kids?? or whatever.

I though Rory was pretty stupid getting into it with Townsend but when I read idiotic comments like the above what Rory said seems quite bland.

Hahaha amazing Rory is excused for his crass behaviour. Rory is an uneducated brat. If there was no golf in his life one has to wonder what the chance of him ending up being a thug drinking cider in a park and being a joy rider?

WillyGilly wrote:Rory needs to watch himself. Major winner or not, I think his public opinion took a dive after allegedly hooking up with y'on tennis ace. Attacking Mr Townsend so aggressively won't do him any favours. Still unsure about JP, not convinced he has arrested his Masters demons.

You think him bagging a new GF might have gotten to this head? Did Rory not say the reason he dumped his former GF was that he wanted to concentrate on golf and that being in a relationship was a distraction? Funny because he had been twittering with his new lass months ago while he was in a relationship. Is this Golf's answer to George Best?

Listen, no one knows what JP said to Rory during the final round at Augusta but im sure he wasn't responsible for the one really horrendous shot that Rory Mc hit driving off 10.
In the same way, i don't think JP was responsible for Congressional either........

Townsend is looking to make a name for himself. I would think Steve Williams is one of the poorer caddies out there if you look at some of Tigers decisions ........Tiger took the wrong option so often yet onloy his supreme skill got him out of trouble.................

Funny stuff. Tiger's game -- which obviously includes course management -- has yielded him more victories and more major victories at his age that any professional golfer. Number should devastate that opinion.

Rory's hot head went unfiltered to his twitter hand. But, IMO, they are BOTH entitled to their opinion and one round does not a tournament make. Rory's passion runs high, but he's also kept it in check as he needed to. Be yourself Rory ... it's worked well thus far!

Kezio? Are you for real?
Fair play to the lad for standing up for himself and his caddie. To be accused of having the course management of a 10 year old is an insult, not a criticism and
Towensend obviously has a chip on his shoulder................

dynamark,
Sorry, missed your earlier question regarding Mr.Rock.
The Italian Open win apparently warranted too few owgr points to secure an exemption into Bridgestone.
While he will most likely only get into the PGA if he earns a top 100 world ranking. Currently 102nd, so likely needs a top ten finish in Killarney.
Sadly looks like being close, but not close enough, for both.

KeizoYamata wrote:

WillyGilly wrote:Rory needs to watch himself. Major winner or not, I think his public opinion took a dive after allegedly hooking up with y'on tennis ace. Attacking Mr Townsend so aggressively won't do him any favours. Still unsure about JP, not convinced he has arrested his Masters demons.

You think him bagging a new GF might have gotten to this head? Did Rory not say the reason he dumped his former GF was that he wanted to concentrate on golf and that being in a relationship was a distraction? Funny because he had been twittering with his new lass months ago while he was in a relationship. Is this Golf's answer to George Best?

He's coming over more and more as a little Kumquat.

I remember first thinking that when he made his comment about the Ryder Cup. For me, he's now made too many comments. The Poopie has stuck.

A good golfer does not need to use Twitter, to justify his actions on the golf course.

John Cregan wrote:Listen, no one knows what JP said to Rory during the final round at Augusta but im sure he wasn't responsible for the one really horrendous shot that Rory Mc hit driving off 10.
In the same way, i don't think JP was responsible for Congressional either........

Townsend is looking to make a name for himself. I would think Steve Williams is one of the poorer caddies out there if you look at some of Tigers decisions ........Tiger took the wrong option so often yet onloy his supreme skill got him out of trouble.................

Am I missing something, what happened at Augusta?

McLaren,
I'm just talking about all the criticism JP got after Augusta. There wasn't anything "said" in particular!

McLaren wrote:yet agian rory proves that a lack of education will hurt you in later life. His parents may have worked 6 jobs but maybe they should have spent some time reading bed time stories. How about the one where a child star without a childhood ends up addicted to coke, girls, crack, kids?? or whatever.

Another great comment from a muppet student that thinks he knows it all because he spent 8 hours a week for 6 months a year over 4 years reading "theory" from textbooks written 3+ years ago because his lecturer that couldn't get a real job told him to. Strange the way that you have to keep trying to convince yourself that a good education makes such a difference?


As for McIlroy, I'm quite glad that he has bitten back. The media is hardly on steady ground at the moment and if a journalist has a go at someone then they should expect a reaction. There would be a difference if this journalist actually had something constructive to say but he simply criticised McIlroy and deserves a reaction to make him think about what he publishes in future.

sharrison01 wrote:
As for McIlroy, I'm quite glad that he has bitten back. The media is hardly on steady ground at the moment and if a journalist has a go at someone then they should expect a reaction. There would be a difference if this journalist actually had something constructive to say but he simply criticised McIlroy and deserves a reaction to make him think about what he publishes in future.

Eh? Because some tabloid journos have been hacking phones, it means golf commentators can't criticise players? Strange logic. And Townsend said McIlroy's course management was poor, suggested this may be due to his caddie and recommended a change of caddie as a solution. That's entirely constructive criticism... McIlroy doesn't have to agree with it or act on it, but it is constructive.

Anyway, sports commentating and journalism would be unbelievably dull if no pundit was ever allowed to criticise anyone.

Looking at the sequence of comments, Townsend's initial criticism wasn't particularly strong, and it was Rory's immediate response, dismissing him as a failed golfer and commentator which set the tone for the rest of the exchange. Stuart Cage wants to have a word with him pronto, that's no way to respond in private never mind for the whole world to see. To my mind, by immediately resorting to personal insults Rory was as good as saying Townsend was right.

NedB-H wrote:

sharrison01 wrote:
As for McIlroy, I'm quite glad that he has bitten back. The media is hardly on steady ground at the moment and if a journalist has a go at someone then they should expect a reaction. There would be a difference if this journalist actually had something constructive to say but he simply criticised McIlroy and deserves a reaction to make him think about what he publishes in future.

Eh? Because some tabloid journos have been hacking phones, it means golf commentators can't criticise players? Strange logic. And Townsend said McIlroy's course management was poor, suggested this may be due to his caddie and recommended a change of caddie as a solution. That's entirely constructive criticism... McIlroy doesn't have to agree with it or act on it, but it is constructive.

Anyway, sports commentating and journalism would be unbelievably dull if no pundit was ever allowed to criticise anyone.

My point about the media was more in the thinking that the whole industry has little pride at the moment and is a bit on egg shells so people like McIlroy will be more confident in having a go back - don't really see how thats a strange logic?

As for his comments, I retract what I said about them not being constructive - I skimmed them on first reading and you are correct in that they are constructive so maybe his reaction was a bit harsh. I still think that McIlroy was well within his rights to have a reaction though because as you point out that sports journalism would be boring without criticism, it is far more exciting when the sports person in question reacts to a comment. This is also all being played out on Twitter so is hardly in the same context as an interview or published article - this form of media leaves you open to a reaction to your comments so to not expect that is either naive, stupid or both.

It just seems a very one-dimensional to talk about the "media" so generally... I don't think golf commentators have done anything recently to be tarred with the same brush. And Townsend doesn't work for New International

I think it's just both sides going a bit OTT really. Nothing wrong with Townsend's original comments, or with McIlroy saying he disagreed with them. Then Townsend went a bit too far with the exaggeration, and McIlroy threw in some unnecessary personal stuff. Bit of a storm in a teacup anyway.

I've just looked into this whole exchange more closely. Not much changes, but the sequence appears to be that the initial comment from Townsend;

'McIlroy's course management was shocking'

Didn't draw a response from Rory. The replies he received were


@JayATownsend Brilliant,a run of the mill golf pro telling a major winner and all round superstar what to do...#talkingpishjay

@JayATownsend Is that good or bad?

@JayATownsend He did not seem to be focused, flopping around the place. He needs to improve in this area if he is to win more.

Townsend then added this;

@wenners just made a great point, @mcilroyrory should hire Stevie Williams, as I thought JP allowed some SHOCKING course management today

Wenners is apparently a TV cameraman, presumably works for Sky. It seems to have been this comment, which is perhaps more critical of JP than Rory, that prompted Rory's outburst;

@JayATownsend shut up.... You're a commentator and a failed golfer, your opinion means nothing!

Among the various replies and responses, one which stood out to me was this, sent to Townsend

@JayATownsend as Colm Byrne will tell you in defense of JP, young Rory does not listen much of the time.

In response to the 'Is that good or bad?' question above
Townsend, presumably realising he needed to be as clear as possible to spell it out to someone who is thick enough to ask such a question, then said the 10 yo thing;

Some of the worst course management I have ever seen beyond under 10's boys golf competition

Again, this drew no response from Rory. Townsend then presumably saw the 'shut up' comment, and replied with

@McIlroyRory Sorry, but I stand by my comments

To which of course Rory replied

@JayATownsend well, I stand by my caddie

Townsend then retweeted the Colm Byrne tweet above, and then separately said

As you should, I respect that @McIlroyRory

All of which, I think, puts a slightly different perspective on the whole thing. Rory seems only to have been driven to respond as he did by the criticism of JP rather than of him. As I said before, I think he knew that driver had been the wrong club off 18, and so had 'Wenners' not chipped in with the Steve Williams comment this whole 'tw@t' (love that term) may well never have happened. The manner of his response is still inappropriate, but the motivation for it, the sequence of comments and indeed the participants in the whole affair aren't as seems to be being reported.

sharrison01 wrote:Another great comment from a muppet student that thinks he knows it all because he spent 8 hours a week for 6 months a year over 4 years reading "theory" from textbooks written 3+ years ago because his lecturer that couldn't get a real job told him to. Strange the way that you have to keep trying to convince yourself that a good education makes such a difference?

Pathetic. I notice from your profile that you're in w...sorry...banking. I'd take an HE lecturer over a w...sorry...banker any day of the week.

As for McIlroy's comments. Childish. In the extreme. Engage brain once in a while. Actually, TBH the whole Twitter nonsense is pathetic. As Darren Clarke might have said....get a life.

The only thing I would say, not having seen today's coverage, is that sometimes the TV pundits have an agenda. Not saying Townsend does, but clearly some of his countrymen do, Garcia, Westwood being just two of those who are continually slagged off on the US TV Networks, usually NBC.

Poulter and Casey reacted to some particularly inane remarks by Johnny Miller at East Lake last year, and how Dottie Pepper (who's very good when keeping to objective coverage) and Rolfing (who's very good when covering anything in Hawaii keep their jobs without getting periodically headbutted by non-american golfers, is beyond me.

Hopefully Rory can be man enough to call a truce, play well Friday, better the weekend, and win going away.

Sheesh, yet another episode of the terrible 22's!!! Rory must by now be running out of feet to put in his mouth!

Better than the "terrible" 27's: Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, Cobain, vinochateau . . . . . .