ICYMI: Rory McIlroy’s Tone-Deaf Sales Pitch To Cameron Smith

Posted By
Jeff Smith
-
8
Cameron Smith with Rory McIlroy
Cameron Smith and Rory McIlroy shake hands on the 18th green after the first round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake GC on Aug 25, 2022 in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images)

Today, several more PGA Tour members, including the world No. 2 Cameron Smith, are expected to officially join the Greg Norman-led LIV Golf league.

It will be the fourth or fifth wave of Tour players who’ve signed on with the breakaway tour despite a coordinated campaign of bribes and bullying that would make the mob blush.

Last week, Rory McIlroy described how he tried to sell Smith on staying with the PGA Tour. And if true, it’s no wonder why so many prominent players headed for the exits.

In short, McIlroy essentially told Smith he could care less if he stays or leaves; it won’t “make a difference” to the Northern Irishman. He just wanted to make sure Smith was smart enough to understand all of the facts.

Cameron Smith with Rory McIlroy
Cameron Smith with Rory McIlroy on the 16th hole tee during the third round of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin CC on Mar 26, 2021 in Austin, TX. (Photo by Keyur Khamar for the PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

“So my whole thing, like I had a conversation with Cameron Smith two days after the Open, and firstly, I wanted to congratulate him, but also I wanted — guys that are thinking one way or another, honestly I don’t care if they leave or not,” said McIlroy.

“It’s not going to make a difference to me.

“But I would at least like people to make a decision that is completely informed and basically know this is what’s coming down the pipeline.

“This is what you may be leaving behind.

“I just don’t want people making decisions — hearing information from one side and not from another. So I think that’s sort of been my whole thing this entire time.

“I’ve always said guys can do whatever they want. Guys can make a decision that they feel is best for themselves and their families. But I want guys to make decisions based on all of the facts.

“Sometimes I don’t think some guys made those decisions based on having all the facts in front of them.”

If McIlroy is the firewall between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, no wonder why there’s been a mass exodus.

Advertisement

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

8 COMMENTS

  1. You just get the feeling that a lot of players are growing tired of Rory  being their spokesperson. Rahms response to the reporter about all the unknowns going forward says it all. That’s what happens when you have a weak commissioner.
  3. The Pga Tour is all about themselves first and foremost (understandably so), and then the players that they deem important to themselves and the Tour’s future.  The Tour does many things contrary to expanding the game. They make it extremely hard for non tour players to participate in any tour event. Rory is only looking out for himself, otherwise he would be happy for the other players. People are tired of the Pga Tour’s and there mouthpieces bullying tactics. We may watch the tour, but not support them otherwise.
  4. Nice comment UPS driver. Not sure if your “stomach” remark was intended or not but Rorys comment about how he “cannot stomach” the 18 LIV players planning on playing the upcoming DP event at Wentworth speaks volumes of this guys hatred of people over a game??? Really!! Get over yourself Rory. It’s a game for crying out loud!

    • I saw that quote, related to the BMW… And most definitely highlighting as part of a post. I just need to check the context.
      – JS

  5. Rory’s attitude problem really began when he signed that 50 million dollar a year contract with Nike–you know, Nike, that great company built on the backs of slave laborers.

    Now he is worse than annoying, he is a despicable. Along with Tiger, Billy Ho and Justin Thomas, he represents the arrogance of the PGA Tour perfectly. LIV is the best thing that ever happened to pro men’s golf–time to end the monopoly.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your name here