Rory McIlroy SLAMMED as ‘Tone-Deaf Hypocrite’ After Bragging He Earned Extra $600K With Final Putt

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Jeff Smith
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2026-Genesis Inv Rory McIlroy Smug Answer Leprechaun
Rory McIlroy tells a reporter he wasn't disappointed that putts didn't drop earlier, because he made and "extra $600,000" with one putt on 18. (SG X)

Rory McIlroy’s nonchalant brag that a single birdie putt on the 18th hole at the Genesis Invitational “probably earned me an extra $400,000 or $500,000” has detonated a firestorm of fury across social media, with golf fans branding the world No. 2 a tone-deaf hypocrite who’s finally exposed his true priorities.

At historic Riviera Country Club, the Northern Irish star ended with a lengthy birdie putt on the 72nd hole to finish one back of Jacob Bridgeman, and tied for second on 17 under, alongside Kurt Kitayama. The second-place duo each pocketed $1.8 million for the week.

In a press conference exchange that quickly went viral, a reporter asked, “Was it almost cruel to see the one on 18 go in after so many slipped by earlier?”

McIlroy brushed it off with a chuckle: “No, not really. It probably earned me an extra $400, $500k so it was fine.”

Fact Check: According to the PGA Tour’s Tie Table, before the putt, McIlroy was -16 and tied with Adam Scott. After the putt was made, he moved to T2, joining Kitayama at -17. A tie for third place was worth $1.2M, whereas a tie for second meant $1.8M in earnings. Thus, McIlroy pocketed an extra $600,000 with that single putt.

The flippant remark has been universally panned as wildly out of touch and elitist. For the average American HOUSEHOLD earning approximately $60,000–$70,000 per year (per recent Bureau of Labor Statistics and Social Security data), that one stroke on a golf course represented roughly 7–10 years of full-time labor. It’s an amount most will never see in a single check, let alone for one stroke on a golf course.

Critics argued the casual flaunting of such a massive sum highlighted a glaring disconnect from everyday financial realities.

The remark has also reignited long-simmering criticism of McIlroy’s perceived double standard. For years, the reigning Masters winner has publicly positioned the PGA Tour as the purer, legacy-driven circuit while repeatedly dismissing LIV Golf players as mercenaries chasing guaranteed money over competitive merit.

Social media erupted with criticism, labeling the 36-year-old a “great golfer” but “terrible human being.” Fans pointed to his past statements condemning LIV defectors for chasing guaranteed riches over competitive prestige, only for McIlroy to openly tally the financial upside of a single putt.

Other online reactions included even sharper rebukes, such as branding him an “arrogant wanker,” who “is so unlikeable, it’s ridiculous;” calls for him to “kiss the ground Greg Norman and Phil Mickelson walk on” for indirectly boosting PGA Tour purses; and several jabs about his Irish roots and chasing the pot o’ gold.

While McIlroy has quietly softened his stance on LIV in recent months, acknowledging some of its unintended benefits to the sport, this latest incident has convinced many supporters that his own priorities may align more closely with the “loot” he once condemned than the “legacy” he championed.

The 36-year-old, still a dominant force with five majors and massive marketability, has not yet commented on the backlash. The episode highlights how fragile player-fan goodwill can be when elite-level earnings are flaunted in a way that feels disconnected from the average person’s reality.

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