Golf Twitter: From Smug to Sad After Rory’s Coronation Gets Canceled

Sunday at St Andrews was supposed to be a coronation of a soon-to-be “immortal” (UK Mirror) Rory McIlroy, who also happened to be “golf’s conscience” (NBC); its “voice of reason” (ESPN); and a “St Andrews savior” (BBC), among other over the top adjectives.

But then something happened amid a firehose of smug hot takes from golf twitter: Rory played not to lose and, well, predictably lost. Cam Smith, on the other hand, pinned his ears back on the Old Course and won.

The before-and-after takes from the smugset was simply next-level glorious to read.

Let’s dig in.

1. Alan Shipnuck

Shipnuck was formerly at SI/Golf magazine (I believe) but now blogs at the firepits connection.

Before:

Getting reports that one typist awakened at 2:30 a.m. to read the old masters for inspiration. Another group of scribes made a pilgrimage to Old Tom's grave this morning. The sportswriters are already choking on the magnitude of a McIlroy victory—imagine how Rory feels right now!

— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) July 17, 2022

After:

This wasn’t a collapse, just a monumental letdown. Rory’s stress showed on the greens but there were also costly missed opportunities with approach shots: 7, 14, 16. 69 is the absolute worst he could have shot. What a bummer.

— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) July 17, 2022

2. Claire Rogers

Rogers I think is at golf.com but not totally sure. I know she’s part of the smugset who circle tweet one another with the same self-righteous hot takes. (Her first tweet was a snarky takeoff on Rory’s smug comments after winning in Canada.)

Before:

“This is a day I’ll remember for a long, long time. Two Open Championship wins, the same as somebody else.” – Rory around this time tomorrow

— claire rogers (@kclairerogers) July 16, 2022

After:

Rory cannot cry because then I’ll cry

— claire rogers (@kclairerogers) July 17, 2022

3. Sean Martin

Martin writes for the state-run PGA Tour dot com. Surprised he posted his “after” tweet, given his PGA Tour affiliation. (I mean why is he “discouraged?”) Update: Martin has deleted the “after” tweet I’d highlighted: bad wording.

Before:

The former site of the Old Course’s first tee is now a memorial to Scotland’s Protestant martyrs.

They preached a faith that held God’s sovereignty as one of its central tenets.

And now we may be on the verge of a victory that feels predestined:https://t.co/DJRKjgHlLX

— Sean Martin (@PGATOURSMartin) July 16, 2022

"Legacy, reputation, at the end of the day that's all you have. You strip everything away, and you're left with how you made people feel and what people thought of you. That is important to me." – Rory McIlroy

Today is a legacy-defining day.

— Sean Martin (@PGATOURSMartin) July 17, 2022

After

I think the most discouraging aspect of Rory’s loss is that Cameron Smith did what we thought Rory should do. Take control. Rory has the physical gifts to do so, but couldn’t utilize them when it mattered most.

— Sean Martin (@PGATOURSMartin) July 17, 2022

4. Kyle Porter

For years, Porter was a straight shooting reporter at CBS Golf dot com. But Greg Norman now LIVs rent free in his head.

Before:

Major championships are an exercise in sensory overload. Rory internalizes everything. Here’s what a stunning Saturday felt like at the Old Course. https://t.co/AU03BBKYGG

— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) July 16, 2022

Mid:

They’ve broken contain on 12. The whole town might try to bring him home!

— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) July 17, 2022

After:

The cruelest game.

— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) July 17, 2022

5. Shane Bacon

Bacon was with FOX Sports golf. Not sure anymore – could be a free agent. But travels, at least on twitter, in and around the smugset.

Before:

The entire town of St. Andrews and every fan out here is like a wedding party anxiously waiting for the groom to show up as he's nowhere to be found with the wedding beginning in about 11 minutes.

— Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) July 17, 2022

After:

I guess if you birdie all the holes on the back nine at a major championship on the most famous golf course in the world during one of the most anticipated final rounds in recent memory you deserve to win. I guess.

— Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) July 17, 2022

6. No Laying Up

Popular podcaster and tweeter. Started as Jordan Spieth tracker (I think).

Before:

When Rory has the sawed off wedge dialed pic.twitter.com/bBYWTzTRoN

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) July 15, 2022

After:

Pretty great perspective from Rory there at an extremely emotional time. Recognized how solid his major championship season has been and recognized that it likely means good things to come for him, despite the obvious disappointment.

That's Rotella stuff there.

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) July 17, 2022

7. Amanda Rose

I don’t know who she writes for – could be an independent blogger or podcaster – but runs with the smug pack on twitter.

Before:

This kid is ALL of us watching Rory McIlroy ?? pic.twitter.com/GlhLRS7oMJ

— Amanda Rose (@AmandaGolf59) July 17, 2022

After:

LIV bots are out in full trying to ? on Rory McIlroy. What a sad world.

— Amanda Rose (@AmandaGolf59) July 17, 2022

8. Barstool Trent

Total guess here. But thinking he blogs about barstools.

Before:

Good morning to everyone especially Rory McIlroy

— Trent (@BarstoolTrent) July 17, 2022

Mid:

I’m not proud of rooting for every Cam Smith shot to go in a bunker but that’s the reality of the situation.

— Trent (@BarstoolTrent) July 17, 2022

After:

Damn

— Trent (@BarstoolTrent) July 17, 2022

9. Riggs Barstool

Another bartool content guy. Again, just a wild guess, given the name.

Before:

Could listen to Rory talk nonstop for the rest of my life. Giddy thinking about tomorrow. What could be. What hasn’t been for so long. The insane scene that would be Rory walking up 18 the champ. The fear of it going wrong.

Let’s do this. pic.twitter.com/umfH54FMxj

— Riggs (@RiggsBarstool) July 17, 2022

Mid:

Rory is no longer walking. He is bouncing. Borderline jumping. It’s not good for the field when he does that.

— Riggs (@RiggsBarstool) July 17, 2022

After:

Depressed.

— Riggs (@RiggsBarstool) July 17, 2022

What a dagger. How did Rory not win.

— Riggs (@RiggsBarstool) July 17, 2022

10. Joel Beall

Golf Digest or Golf Magazine confirmed. Not totally sure.

Before:

Strolled around St. Andrews this morning, trying to figure out how the hell we are so lucky to have this moment. At St. Salvator’s Chapel three men stood outside the church's gates. “Hey boys,” shouted someone from across the street. “Don’t forget to pray for Rory.”

— Joel Beall (@JoelMBeall) July 17, 2022

After:

On Rory, unanswered prayers and unfilled expectations, his gravitational pull and why he’s the people’s champ, results be dammed https://t.co/AeEG0jObZY

— Joel Beall (@JoelMBeall) July 17, 2022

11. Daniel Rapaport

Golf Digest, I think. Or Golf Magazine? One or the other.

Before:

Feast your eyes, children, for this is pretty damn close to Peak Rory McIlroy. Been a while.

— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) July 17, 2022

That Rory putt (50 yards?!) was one of the coolest shots I’ve seen live. Mans is feeeeeeeling himself.

— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) July 17, 2022

Mid:

Hard to describe the collective nervousness of this crowd right now given Rory’s inability to hole a put. Actually, it’s kind of easy to describe: they’re just really freakin’ nervous.

— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) July 17, 2022

After:

Rory did not make a single putt all day. Wooooooof.

— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) July 17, 2022

12. Alex Myers

Same: Golf Digest or Golf Magazine. Not sure.

Before:

I love Viktor Hovland and I’d love to win my pre-tournament bet on him. But if Rory doesn’t win this thing, we can officially rule out the existence of golf gods.

— Alex Myers (@AlexMyers3) July 17, 2022

Mid:

Fingers-Crossed Kid > Michelob Man pic.twitter.com/qxPB7eThaA

— Alex Myers (@AlexMyers3) July 17, 2022

After:

RIP golf gods.

— Alex Myers (@AlexMyers3) July 17, 2022

13. Me

Credits: Golf Twitter Smugset List