HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA – JUNE 16: A general view of the course during a practice round prior to the RBC Heritage on June 16, 2020 at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
V Krishnaswamy
A lot of European players were unhappy at not getting a chance to boost their Official Worrld Golf Ranking points, which are so crucial for a lot of exemptions, including getting into the Majors and even making Ryder Cup teams. In addititon, players also have bonuses attached to their World rankings, especially about getting into Top-20 or Top-10 and better.
Rory McIlroy cannot understand why players who had the means and ways to come to US two weeks or more ahead of the events and quarantine themsleves in a ‘nice gated community’ in Florida, did not do so.
McIlroy, who said he cares a lot about his job, his career and moving ahead in golf, is clear that if he were faced with a choice of coming to US and stay on in isolattion or be in quarantine, he would have done so, if only because it would give him a chance to play when events re-started.
He said, “Look, personally, if I were in their shoes and I was asked to come over to the states and shelter in place or quarantine for two weeks before these tournaments, I would have done that because we’ve got — I mean, if you really care about your career and care about moving forward, you should be here, I think. Last week was 70 World Ranking points for the winner, this week 74.
And I get there’s different variables and families and stuff involved, but we all have the means to rent a very nice house in a gated community in Florida and it’s not a hardship for two weeks to come over and quarantine. I mean, it’s fine. My caddie Harry (Diamond) came over and did it. He stayed in our guest house. The two weeks flew by.
“Yeah, I honestly don’t understand the guys complaining because there is a solution to it. You can come over here and do what needs to be done.”
European players have been unhappy at OWGR being granted at the PGA Tour events, even as the European Tour events are yet to start. The PGA Tour re-started without fans last week, and the European Tour does not start before July 22, by which time, players in US would have had a chance to play at least five high-profile events with a bunch of OWGR points, which would push many American players ahead of their European rivals.
McIlroy’s caddie Harry Diamond flew back to te US a few weeks before the events re-started. He spent his time in quarantine and now Diamond and McIlroy are sharing a house. They did so at Fort Worth and do so again in Hilton Head.
About this week, McIlroy said, “Same thing. So Harry and I are sharing a house. We’ve obviously spent the last, whatever it is, three and a half weeks together. We get tested, and we’re both negative. I feel like it’s a safe option. So just Harry and I sharing a house again this week.
Then practice-wise, I haven’t really — I played nine holes yesterday, and I joined Jhonattan Vegas and Emiliano Grillo and Branden Grace, but I’m going to go play nine holes later today (Wednesday), but I haven’t arranged anything. It’s sometimes nice just to get out there on your own, especially if you want to see a new golf course that you haven’t seen in a while, just to sort of go about your business with your caddie and learn a few things about the course.”
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