Rory McIlory doesn’t seem too familiar with the likes of Fat Perez, Gabby Golf Girl and Grant Horvat. He also doesn’t seem to care to watch any of their videos. Somehow this has been interpreted as a scandal among fans of the YouTubers when it should be little more than a blip on the radar this week.
It also entirely misses the point.
Golf YouTubers are great for exposing the game to new generations who may have preconceived notions of a stuffy, uptight sport for retirees — or a broadcast their dad falls asleep to on the couch every weekend. Golf influencers are, objectively, a good thing. McIlroy, already at the top of his game, is focused on winning championships and delivering for the millions of fans who already follow him week after week.
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If golf YouTubers are the entry point to the sport, what McIlroy does is the main event. And there’s plenty of room in the sport to celebrate both. That’s exactly what the PGA Tour is trying to do this week with the return of the Creator Classic at TPC Sawgrass.
So when McIlory says he doesn’t really pay attention to these influencers, it’s not a dig. Especially the way he explained himself:
Granted, the caption to that video makes it seem like McIlroy is way more adversarial than he actually comes off, but at no point does he ever mock or denigrate what the YouTubers are doing for the sport, it’s just not how he prefers to enjoy the game.
Rory is a 35-year-old man with a wife and kids and so many obligations within and outside of the sport that it would actually be more shocking if he said he was grinding hours of YouTube videos.
“I’m not of that generation,” McIlroy said. “…I’m happy for the people that enjoy it, but I enjoy something else.”
A look at the comments on that video — which, really, you should never read the comments — shows how many people take this as a personal attack when it’s really not that deep. Much like the backlash to Angel Reese’s recent comments about a looming lockout in the WNBA, fans here need to take two steps back and a few deep breathes.
McIlroy doesn’t have to enjoy watching YouTubers play golf. These influencers aren’t going anywhere. And through his work with TGL and his attempts to advance the sport, it’s clear he absolutely cares about making the game more accessible.
Here’s a better way to look at it: One of the best golfers in the world finds it more entertaining to watch his colleagues and friends compete at the highest level rather than spend his free time watching amateurs. Absolutely no one should be surprised or upset by this.
Those who are should go touch grass. Preferably at their local municipal course or wherever they can get a tee time.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Rory McIlroy YouTube Golf comments backlash misses the point
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