Rory Responds To LIV Rumors & Talor Gooch's "Asterisk" Comment

Rory McIlroy was asked by the media about a rumor that he may join LIV Golf as well as comments made by LIV Player Talor Gooch that preemptively questioned the validity of a McIlroy Masters win.

[@cm96yyc]

When you consider that the top guys ever have largely tried to shun the media, it is quite impressive that Rory continues his high level of play while being such a willing ambassador for the sport. Before hating on him, ask yourself if you think he is truly overrated or washed. No majors in 10 years and maybe no green jacket, but outside of that, you really can't argue that he hasn't been a top player throughout his career, and that he hasn't been a total diplomat. He is absolutely one of the best of his generation, and golf is exciting when he is in contention.

[@DMKFACTOR]

He just won the Fedex cup 2 years ago, and again in 2019 and 2016! He’s the only player with 3! He hasn’t won a major in 10 years? That’s the most casual argument EVER! Guy has 4 Majors! Only 20 people in the HISTORY OF golf have more! How dumb are you? We’re talking back to 1860, only 20 players ever have more! You have to be a moron to come up with an argument like that!

[@matte8663]

He is a good guy .. not sure why people hate him. Great golfer, thoughtful and doesn’t shy away from issues when other people would give a robotic answer…. Rory win the green jacket this year man

[@robertschissler1236]

And then he will jump to LIV and the haters will go nuts 😉⛳️😇😊

[@locdorx]

Good guy? Where? Talking trash about players jump on LIV. So he hasn't won lately so the pay check is not the same so LIV offer a bigger paycheck - jumps right it

[@brendaporter457]

Despite not having won as many majors as he or most people though he would at this point in his career, when “it’s all said and done “ I think Rory will be remembered as one of the greatest golfers of all time. He has won multiple tournaments all over the world and continues to be in contention week in and week out.

[@chevy4x466]

Hmmm, Rory is certainly a legendary golfer by any measure. I think he is going to need some big wins to move him into the top ten. I have names in no particular order: tiger, jack, jones, Palmer, Watson, hogan, Trevino ,Phil, brooks, player, seve. Not sure Rory gets past Greg due to Greg ranking for 8 years, but debatable. Despite not winning majors lately, his consistency is impressive. But he never had to overcome a dominant golfer like tiger or jack like Phil lee player Watson had to. Rory is a great golfer. Hopefully with him avoiding the liv controversy, he will finish his career in a manner befitting such a great champion.

[@gooseGoose-et1wl]

And one of the biggest hypocrites of all time

[@JMAC85]

@@gooseGoose-et1wl Hmmmmmmmmm🤔

[@stevegordon2032]

The most arrogant and obnoxious golfer of modern times. Needs to shut up talking and play golf does Mr Wankilroy.

[@jimlangdon1947]

Great Golfers are really just judged on Majors - as NFL players are remembered for playoff/ Super Bowl successes. The existing golf majors - might become obsolete just as the existing golf rankings are flawed & not valid/credible anymore. Golfers should be ranked independently & mainly based on their annual earnings as the priority. Why not - they do golf for money? So Regional National Tours likely are basically just becoming feeder tours to International Tours like LIV. Makes perfect sense for Rory to upgrade to LIV - allowing USA regional tours to take on more USA great college golfers. For golf - it is a win-win-win.😀

[@MarkTill-vt3ku]

how many majors has Gooch won , or tour championships?

[@frozenropegolf]

If he wins the Masters he signs……..100%

[@RibStats]

“Or a green jacket and just walk away” WOW, he’s definitely thinking to go to LIV. Cant blame him with how the PGA Tour have used him

[@raybowles8587]

Talor Gooch had 4 wins last year and I think several 2nd places. I am willing to bet he probably will have a better record than 3/4 of the players who play in the Masters for last year. So it is ridiculous to say he shouldn't play in the Masters. The sad thing is, these majors with not be having some of the best players play in it, and is going to put a blemish on whoever wins. No golfer wants to win a major and know he really didn't beat the best players. They know it will always come up in conversation they their win wasn't really the same as past Masters. I sure wouldn't want to win a major and have that being said. I would want to know I beat the best. Look at all the conversation in every sport wondering who is the goat. You don't become a goat, not beating the best.

[@chaselleprice2833]

Agree with you! Pretty much every worthy golfer wants to know He/She beat the best golfers in the world and not just their own tour. Many top golfers on other tours that have had great success on the ladies tour and it’s just a travesty of Justice to not include Talor and a few others who have done well on LIV in the majors. LIV field is a stacked field every event which is something no one can say about the PGAT.

[@robertschissler1236]

Just remember Roy said they have to change Ryder Cup rules to include Rahm. So we know who he thinks the top player is 😊⛳️😇😉

[@MarkTill-vt3ku]

its not ridiculous at all , the Masters invites whomsoever it likes . End of conversation .

[@raybowles8587]

@@MarkTill-vt3ku True, but in the past they always invited the most accomplished players. As a player, I wouldn't want a master trophy knowing I didn't beat the best. It puts a shadow over the win and will always be brought up. No player wants that.

[@robertschissler1236]

Right now Taylor Gooch is in the top twenty of current hot golfers so consistent 😉⛳️😇😊

[@user_1664]

Agreed the best players should be competing at the majors . If thats what they wanted then why go to liv and play league golf ? Whats a promise from a shark really worth ?

[@jryer1]

YUP SPOT ON! The best players in the world have to earn it by making cuts against other best players in that week, with no guarantee at a paycheck. That's a HUGE motivator. None of that exists on the LIV contract, no cut, old man tour! The young bucks of the PGA are going to fill the void and take over golf in SPITE OF LIV!

[@GWills-ys6rd]

Why would The Masters not want the top LIV Golfers to feature at Augusta? This is a matter of survival with maximum worldwide interest and maximum financial return.

[@Mactastic25]

Augusta is it's own entity. They does not need LIV Golf or the PGA for it's survival. They can invite who they want.

[@robertschissler1236]

@@Mactastic25th

[@raybowles8587]

You're exactly right. I was debating not even watching the Masters this year if there isn't going to be the best players. That is why I love LIV, almost every group on the course has great players. It is like watching a major every time you watch LIV. I stopped watching the PGA. I have no desire to watch it.

[@ClaxtonBay123]

​@@raybowles8587They won't miss you.

[@chaselleprice2833]

@@raybowles8587 Plus most of the media will not acknowledge that every LIV tournament is a stacked field unlike what you see in any other tour. There are so many major winners and former world top #10’s to ignore the fact so much talent has been deemed irrelevant since they no longer play on what the brown nose claim has the best players in the world. PGAT has the best in the USA perhaps but definitely not the world.

[@katofakatoumafi265]

What’s considered the best players in the world? Are you basing it off 54 holes with no cuts or 72 holes with a cut?? If LIV changed its format and make it a 72 holes with a cut then we have a conversation. 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@PirateRemy]

Agreed. 54 holes where everyone gets paid is not a pressure situation. Greg Norman may as well tee it up, and bash it around to a background of hip hop...yawn

[@CLEVEMAN691]

TAKE THE MONEY

[@davidthomas126]

Taylor should have been on ryder cup team for his LIV season. he should be in all the majors too. the major championships aren't what they were without including the best players. and look just how thin the field is at the "players" championship in punta vedra this year. NOT THE SAME ANYMORE

[@robertschissler1236]

I’m hearing golf podcasts announcers starting to say any winners of majors that block top LIV players will have an asterisk by them because at least 50% of top players now on LIV

[@chaselleprice2833]

Questions whether Talor Gooch has shown any form? He won 3 times on LIV including the 2023 individual championship , Joaquin Niemann had no wins on the LIV tour and wanted to boost his OWGR since he was close to the top 50 criteria for an invite to the Masters. Niemann has since won several tournaments including the 1st 2024 LIV tournament and is poised to win his 2nd this week as he’s leading going into the final round.

[@lancemanyon7645]

And what’s the point? Playing 3 rounds with zero cut and only 54 holes. They were all aware there were no world ranking points with LIV it was a money grab of Saudi $$$ over American money. If they are American did that then eff them they got the money they craved so why now care about the other parts?

[@PirateRemy]

No real pressure on Liv tournaments as everyone is already rich.

[@lancemanyon7645]

@@PirateRemy And only 6 or 7 people watching takes the pressure off. Good God there are more people watching on my golf trips with friends

[@PirateRemy]

@@lancemanyon7645 if only you could play for $$$ in front of a few onlookers eh

[@lancemanyon7645]

@@PirateRemy Hell yeah but you can twist it any way you want to. This isn’t to grow the game this is just a money grab. The Euros and others can do what they want but for Americans to shun American business money for Saudi money is a shame and they should be ashamed. All golfers have ego and there is no way they like playing in front of so little people

[@ohwowthatsgood]

Sure, but when's the last time Rory spoke with Chubby Checker?

[@waffleninja1000]

I thought Chubby Checker was dead. Time to do The Twist.

[@jenniferrosal185]

@@waffleninja1000 He still very much alive.

[@RG-ja34sep]

It’s absolutely insane that Rory has not won a Major title in 10 years. He’s fitter, stronger, more experienced and yet that next major eludes him! I think it’s become a bit of a jinx, as well as trying too hard. His approach game from 120 yards and putting frequently let him down, and he often has one mediocre round during recent major championships. I believe that if he had a caddie like Steve Williams on the bag (Tiger’s ex) he would have won at least 10 majors up to now! Every top major winner has had a really great bagman, and Harry Diamond is not a professional caddie!

[@user-ok9ue8gp6k]

I thought Rory hated LIV. Is Rory changing his mind?

[@kimdavidj2]

It’s all about the money.

[@ericraut8574]

Barking up the wrong tree? Moving away from PGA but to DP World in role to recover that Tours lost ground and design future ...?? ( and looking at LIV from that angle vs. USA)

[@markhuru]

I think Rory is putting up a brave front, Liv could literally grab every top notch winner from the PGA. It's sad that the only defense PGA had to hold its $ winners was to disqualify Liv players from majors. Let's face it pro golfers are pro because of $. Why not be an amateur if winning is the prize. No literally it's always going to be about money. This whole Thing is like a war just like Russia and Israel... Norman could be thought of as a dictator. Saudi shouldn't have disrupted the game. Now greed really has shown it's ugly head.

[@robertschissler1236]

I think you see the handwriting on the wall. Roy will play Master then move to London then jump to the World Tour LIV. The haters are going to go crazy

[@PirateRemy]

He won't join Liv while Norman is there ..

[@robertschissler1236]

When he goes to LIV he will be creating even more legacy

[@peterbrigden2124]

Finally greed has got to Rory, why am I not surprised 😂😂

[@wagstaffe7]

Money talks...no matter how much they already have banked.

[@chevy4x466]

I don’t even think it’s the money at this point, cuz he gets paid like a liv star on the pga tour. The global golf model that liv is executing is intriguing Rory. Just look at the women’s hsbc event in Singapore this week. I think Rory want to go to world class cities and play for huge international audiences. The pga tour is only a North American brand

[@MSDOGS1976]

@@chevy4x466 Maybe but I don't think he's sold on 3 round tournaments. He's always been more of a traditionalist. But I wouldn't be totally shocked if he ends up with Liv. He felt betrayed by Monahan after toting his message and then him doing a complete about face. If Liv offers $500 mil or so and he still has plenty of exemptions into the majors he might as well go.

[@robertconklin4657]

Gooch is a bum. The best players are playing on the PGA.

[@angelmatos9143]

For a billion he's gone. 😂

[@x44413]

His sanctimonious stance is really unflattering. No one cares if rory wins or even plays again.

[@robertschissler1236]

I would just because if he jumps LIV the pga haters will go absolutely nuts 😜

[@PirateRemy]

Liv Golf is a circus, its boring to watch, has no real competitive edge without a cut, and no real pressure to win because everyone has already become rich, theres no little guyy trying to make it big, just an endless procession of cash cows for already wealthy entitled millionaires. . It's over saturated. I'd rather watch the drama of a Ryder Cup ( that isn't about prize money ) and the pressure of a major or watch a rookie win on a tour where hard work is respected.

[@turangatohiariki3042]

PGA put so much hype & MONEY INTO you & your ONLY MAJOR @ the young age that you were HOPING YOU WERE GOING TO BE THE WHITE 🐅 OF GOLF 😂😂😂

[@Tigersmundo]

*Just saying If LIV players came back Rory would probably be rightly shuffled back to his 15th to 20th spot in the world.*

[@Tigersmundo]

*This Joe is the most disrespectful flip-flop out there, kid. It's been ten years of failure without a green jacket. That window closed a decade ago facts, bro. Put an asterisk on it if you dare.*

[@geoffw8565]

Not sure anybody really knows what you're going on about ( or cares ) Maybe if your wording made some sense that might help ?

[@user-pu5tu5ju7l]

Rory will be far happier at LIV. USPGA is now the feeder tour to Super LiV.

[@o_Juffo_o]

you waffle some nonse, not to mention disrespectful to a tour that been there since 1916

[@robertschissler1236]

@@o_Juffo_oand Jack and Arnold Palmer left about Fifty years ago because pga tour refused to change. You want to bad mouth two of the greatest golfers ever 😉⛳️😇😊

[@ML-wb5pj]

Rory’s a bit shortsighted. He doesn’t seem to put in the work that will pay off in the future. His whole approach is very casual. Mate on the bag etc. I think he needs to focus every year on one major and really play and practice for that. He is scared to do that and put too much pressure on himself. But goes to show he doesn’t really believe he can win. Make a plan and go out and execute it. Tiger Woods style. Rather than this pseudo-psychology just treat it like any other tournament and just wander in.

[@hoppman6649]

Most LIV players are just has-beens that were done with PGA tour, nobody misses whiney sergio especially.

[@seanmawson6286]

Has beans there are a very good players on l i v I think you'll find most of the week fields are on the PGA anyway it's no point talking to a mindless PGA loyalist stick to your wakefield's buddy😅😅😅

[@robertschissler1236]

That’s why three LIV players have won outside of America on tournaments that qualified them for this year’s British Open it’s driving LIV haters crazy 😝

[@Calmdown1354]

I hope Rory doesn't join LIV! Him not being on it is one of the most enjoyable things about it!

[@Tigersmundo]

*Gooch can beat this Flip Flop right now!!!!! Rory is way past his prime.*

[@hoppman6649]

Gooch is a douche, he left PGA because he was a nothing on PGA tour, he is still a nobody in professional golf.

[@robertschissler1236]

Any major that doesn’t invite Gooch I won’t be watching. If the top players aren’t involved it’s not really a major

[@Tigersmundo]

*Rory the mentally weak one at Augusta every year that course owns him!*

[@earlfultz8603]

They didn't invite talor Gooch which is better than McElroy to begin with