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Rory McIlroy says winning titles motivates him far more than money Rory McIlroy says winning titles motivates him far more than money
(35 minutes later)
Seven years have passed since Nick Faldo said that a supposedly golden generation of English golfers were more interested in the trappings associated with a wealthy lifestyle than tangible golfing reward. Ian Poulter was among those to rebuke Faldo, with the insistence that the top players of today earned so much that money had actually diminished in relevance. Seven years have passed since Nick Faldo said that a supposedly golden generation of English players were more interested in the trappings associated with a wealthy lifestyle than tangible reward. Ian Poulter was among those to rebuke Faldo, with the insistence that the top players earned so much that money had actually diminished in relevance.
If that debate preceded the Open at Carnoustie in 2007, Rory McIlroy’s emergence was one of the key stories of that tournament. McIlroy was soon to turn professional, since when he has entered the stratosphere in terms of earnings on and off the course.If that debate preceded the Open at Carnoustie in 2007, Rory McIlroy’s emergence was one of the key stories of that tournament. McIlroy was soon to turn professional, since when he has entered the stratosphere in terms of earnings on and off the course.
“The money is obviously nice, but no one at the end of your career remembers how much money you’ve won. They just remember the titles that you’ve won,” McIlroy said before embarking on the pursuit of the $10m FedEx Cup bounty here in Atlanta on Sunday. “The money is obviously nice, but no one at the end of your career remembers how much money you’ve won. They just remember the titles that you’ve won,” McIlroy said before embarking on the pursuit of the $10m (£6.2m) FedEx Cup bounty here in Atlanta on Sunday.
One of McIlroy’s most endearing qualities is how grounded he has remained. He has a Palm Beach Gardens home, fast cars and enjoys much of what comes with being the best golfer in the world yet he retains a character generally unaffected by fame and fortune. The Rory Foundation, McIlroy’s charitable wing, ensures a wider benefit from the 25-year-old’s success. One of McIlroy’s most endearing qualities is how grounded he has remained. He has a Palm Beach Gardens home, fast cars and enjoys much of what comes with being the best player in the world, yet he retains a character generally unaffected by fame and fortune. The Rory Foundation, McIlroy’s charitable wing, ensures a wider benefit from the 25-year-old’s success.
“Money’s never been the biggest deal to me at all,” added the Northern Irishman. “Even my closest friends and family will tell you that. It’s nice to have it, and you can do a lot with it and you can help a lot of people with it, but it’s never been one of my main focuses or priorities about becoming a professional golfer.“Money’s never been the biggest deal to me at all,” added the Northern Irishman. “Even my closest friends and family will tell you that. It’s nice to have it, and you can do a lot with it and you can help a lot of people with it, but it’s never been one of my main focuses or priorities about becoming a professional golfer.
“I remember a couple of weeks after I turned pro, I did well at the Dunhill Links and I checked my bank balance the next week. I’m 18 years old, most of my friends are just going into their first week at university. I checked my bank balance, it might have been like £180,000 in there. I was like ‘oh my goodness’. It’s crazy to think about now. “I remember a couple of weeks after I turned pro I did well at the Dunhill Links and I checked my bank balance the next week. I’m 18 years old, most of my friends are just going into their first week at university. I checked my bank balance, it might have been like £180,000 in there. I was like: ‘Oh my goodness’. It’s crazy to think about now.
“I guess growing up and knowing the sacrifices my parents made, I sort of knew the value of money a little bit and you know, these ridiculous sums that we play for, no matter what happens now, I’m going to be OK, my family, and hopefully if I have kids one day, they’re going to be OK as well, so it’s not like I don’t really have to worry about it too much.”“I guess growing up and knowing the sacrifices my parents made, I sort of knew the value of money a little bit and you know, these ridiculous sums that we play for, no matter what happens now, I’m going to be OK, my family, and hopefully if I have kids one day, they’re going to be OK as well, so it’s not like I don’t really have to worry about it too much.”
McIlroy’s attitude is not typical in golf. At many levels, it cannot be as players battle for cash prizes which make or break their status and exemptions on various tours. “I’m not sure I ever thought about it that way, about if I had have holed that putt, it would have meant another 70 grand,” McIlroy said. McIlroy’s attitude is not typical in golf. At many levels, it cannot be as players battle for cash prizes which make or break their status and exemptions on various tours. “I’m not sure I ever thought about it that way, about if I had have holed that putt it would have meant another 70 grand,” McIlroy said.
“You draw some money out of the ATM when you have won the week before and you check your balance and it’s nice, yes. But I can’t say I ever have thought about money on the golf course.”“You draw some money out of the ATM when you have won the week before and you check your balance and it’s nice, yes. But I can’t say I ever have thought about money on the golf course.”
One of the men McIlroy pipped to the US PGA Championship at Valhalla in August, Rickie Fowler, has revealed he received an apology over the way the tournament finished. In fading light, Fowler and Phil Mickelson were asked to stand aside on the 72nd hole as McIlroy, in the group behind, played his first and second shots. One of the men McIlroy pipped to the US PGA Championship at Valhalla in August, Rickie Fowler, meanwhile, has revealed he received an apology over the way the tournament finished. In fading light Fowler and Phil Mickelson were asked to stand aside on the 72nd hole as McIlroy, in the group behind, played his first and second shots.
Neither Fowler nor Mickelson made much of the circumstances at the time but they could have done, with McIlroy eventually winning by just a two-shot margin. Neither Fowler nor Mickelson made much of the circumstances at the time but they could have done, with McIlroy eventually winning by a two-shot margin.
Ted Bishop, president of the PGA of America, has since admitted regret over the affair to Fowler and Mickelson. “He apologised for the way it went down,” Fowler said of his conversation with Bishop. “It was a little unfortunate for a tournament to end like that with everyone being rushed. Ted Bishop, president of the PGA of America, has since admitted regret over the affair to Fowler and Mickelson. “He apologised for the way it went down,” Fowler said of his conversation with Bishop. “It was a little unfortunate for a tournament to end like that, with everyone being rushed.
“We were fine with them hitting their tee balls up, but we were not in a position where we were going to let them hit their approach shots. Will it ever happen again in a major championship? No.”“We were fine with them hitting their tee balls up, but we were not in a position where we were going to let them hit their approach shots. Will it ever happen again in a major championship? No.”